Money matters flip the Outfest script
Changes come to L.A.'s biggest LGBTQ+ film fest, possibly including cancellation
For more than four decades, Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Los Angeles film festival, which takes place over two weeks during the summer in venues throughout the city.
But the nonprofit went through a financial disaster last year that resulted in the pause of all Outfest programming and the subsequent layoff of its approximately 20-person staff. However, Los Angeles' predominant LGBTQ+ film festival could still come back this year, albeit in a much different and more than likely smaller version.
“Today, we are taking a look at how we get back to our mission and assure that we mount some of our core programming this year. And it won't look like a traditional year for Outfest, but we want to make sure that we continue to play our irreplaceable role in the creative community,” said Christopher Racster, who took over as interim executive director late last year and is the organization's sole employee.
Outfest was launched in 1982 by UCLA grad students and grew to include various programs to help develop filmmakers, as well as a Legacy Awards Series and the Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival, which focuses on people of color. Its flagship event, the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, offers 200 or so films and includes parties, panel discussions and other events. The film festival has become an event that amplifies queer and transgender stories while creating a sense of community and serving as a launching pad for young filmmakers whose voices may not otherwise be heard.
For those reasons, Racster said, it's crucial for the festival to take place in whatever form is possible this year.
“We won't have a traditional Outfest Los Angeles Film Festival. There's no way we could mount that right now, given current financial conditions,” he said.
“But we will have and are working with community members to have a replacement for that. Whether it would be a streaming series or a mini festival, something that replicates that opportunity for people to come together to make sure that the new filmmakers who haven't been seen have a chance for their work to be seen and their works elevated,” he added.
Racster said it's possible a revamped film festival may take place in late summer or early fall.
“I feel really disheartened that this cultural landmark is not going to have the full presence it normally does,” he said. “It really does have an irreplaceable part in our culture and creative community. The LGBTQ community doesn't always have a safe place to come together and we provide that, a place to come together and celebrate and get to know one another, and we're working to make sure we create something to replicate that.”
Racster blamed the financial woes on reasons including the Hollywood writers strike, which affected programming and fundraising events; the difficulty of rebuilding momentum after COVID-19 and its restrictions; inflation and the rising costs of putting on such a large-scale event; and mergers among entertainment entities that have trimmed sponsorship budgets.
“Quite suddenly you could find yourself in a severe financial deficit,” he said.
So far, no employees have been hired back, and Outfest is raising funds to pay approximately $500,000 owed to vendors and partners. So it may seem like an uphill battle for Outfest to get back to where it once was, but those involved in the LGBTQ+ film community say it's crucial because the fest has an impact far beyond that.
“Outfest reminds people that the LGBTQ community has a big effect and passion for Hollywood and for film and TV, and that lifts up all of Hollywood,” said John Griffiths, the executive director and founder of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and Dorian Awards.
“It nurtures and advances writers, directors, screenwriters,” said Griffiths, whose organization has teamed with Outfest in the past on programming.
Aside from holding the flagship gathering, Racster said, Outfest will do a Fusion festival sometime this year.
“That's a must. We're still looking at what that will look like and what dates, but that's a must-have,” he said.