Amid the growing list of events that are returning to in-person gatherings is the Outfest Los Angeles. The 10-day festival spotlights and celebrates LGBTQ+ stories and voices in film and television.
After opting for a virtual festival for 2020, the organization hosting the event is excited to host the gathering.
“We’re thrilled to be coming back in-person carefully and with intention to celebrate this amazing community, its stories, and its resiliency and spirit with so many incredible films and special events,” said Outfest Executive Director Damien S. Navarro. “Activating at some of our creators’ and audiences’ venue favorites like the DGA, Hollywood Forever, the Orpheum, and REDCAT in DTLA, we hope brings all the ‘feels’ everyone is ready for. We can’t wait for everyone to see the festival we have curated — I believe the slate of programming not only meets the moment but distinctly presents the work of some of the most talented contemporaries in queer cinema.”
This year’s lineup includes nearly 200 films with more than 50 international entries.
Among them, Outfest Los Angeles features two films with "RuPaul's Drag Race" winners BeBe Zahara Benet and Bianca del Rio in its lineup for its 39th Film Festival.
Season 1 winner BeBe Zahara Benet will perform live before the premiere of "Being Bebe," which follows the Cameroonian-American immigrant's struggle to embrace being an LGBTQ performer against discriminatory cultural forces.
Outfest Synopsis: Known worldwide as BeBe Zahara Benet, the first ever winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, this decade-spanning documentary introduces audiences to Marshall Ngwa, the creative force behind the glamour. Being BeBe traces Benet’s early years growing up in a deeply homophobic Cameroon to gaining prominence on the local amateur drag scene in Minneapolis. Shot over a period of 15 years, long before Benet’s cultural ascendance and television stardom, the film offers an intimate backstage look at the life of one of the most singular and iconic drag queens working today.
Meanwhile, season 6 winner and fan favorite queen, Bianca del Rio, will join the main cast members of "Everybody’s Talking About Jamie," Max Harwood and Lauren Patel. Not to mention that the film will serve as the festival's opening event.
Outfest Synopsis: Inspired by true events, Everybody's Talking About Jamie follows Jamie New (Harwood), a teenager from Sheffield, who dreams of life on stage. While his classmates plan their livelihoods after they leave school, Jamie contemplates revealing his secret career ambition to become a fierce and proud drag queen.
His best friend Pritti (Patel) and his loving mum (Lancashire) shower him with endless support, while local drag legend Miss Loco Chanelle (Grant) mentors him toward his debut stage performance. But Jamie also has to contend with an unsupportive father (Ineson), an uninspired careers advisor (Horgan), and some ignorant school kids who attempt to rain on his sensational parade.
In rousing and colourful musical numbers, Jamie and his community inspire one another to overcome prejudice, be more accepting, and to step out of the darkness into the spotlight.
Del Rio plays art teacher Miss Haywood in the feature adaptation of the musical.
Outfest will also host the 5th Annual Trans and NonBinary Summit on August 21 with a panel featuring established and emerging trans and nonbinary creators, Zackary Drucker and Our Lady J.
The festival kicks off with an outdoor gala at Cinespia at Hollywood Forever from August 13 to August 22. For the complete film lineup, go to outfest.org.