The summer in the City of Los Angeles has the crowds heated up at Outfest 2004. With a large number of Award Winning shorts on the program the audience has been receptive and coming-out so to say at one of the largest Lesbian and Gay festivals in the country. Now in its 22nd year, Outfest has grown to major proportions as also one of the big film festivals in Southern California along with AFI and LA Film Festival.

The Shorts Program has had many of the top films around the world screening in a southland slight heat wave. WELCOME TO LIFE, BOBBYCRUSH and LITTLE BLACK BOOT were at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and now screening at Outfest. WELCOME TO LIFE just had raves at the LA Film Festival and CineVegas recently and won the 10th Annual DGA East Coast Student Filmmaker Award to Jowan Carbin in his directorial debut.

With over 130 shorts this year Outfest has a wide and diverse presentation from around the world. The details to partnering are something other festivals should take note of in the creative and appropriate pairing of films. What is so appreciative is the cleaver titling as well. In the Festival this year are 16 programs with titles: "International Males", male shorts from around the world, "Nut Landing, The Sequel", a campy and mischievous shorts, "Str8 Talk" a group of shorts which illustrates gay men attraction to straight men, "Queer Youth Nation", a group of shorts focused on young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender shorts, made by young filmmakers, "Girls Got The Beat", lesbians who know who to rock shorts and "Gaymation" a collection of animated queer shorts.

It's refreshing and bold at times as Outfest has supported the creative artistry of filmmakers who are for some parlaying their way in the future as feature filmmakers. So many of these films aren’t always appreciated by so called straight festivals and are limited to a sectional set of viewers. In this respectful setting, at this prestigious festival it let's the audiences know of the talented shorts in a smart and progressive presentation.

Outfest is now in it's 22nd year has a year round program that focuses on bring the very best of films that highlight the Lesbian, Gay, BI and Transgender lifestyle. Sponsored by Absolute and HBO the Festival has become a major Festival and support to the community. Presenting the very newest and best of alternative lifestyle genre features, documentaries, and shorts the organization of Outfest will only grow to one of the top Festivals in the country.

For more information logo on the website www.outfest.com