Outfest G&L fest loud and proud

21st Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Los Angeles.—OUTFEST
July 10th-21st 2003

Whereas many Gay & Lesbian Film Festivals throughout the U.S. are all about
“Coming out,” OUTFEST LA is instead beyond the learning curve, celebrating the best of living loud & proud.

Now turning 21, OUTFEST has more than hit its stride offering films that satisfy
the voyeur, cineluster and the entrepreneur. OUTFEST LA has brilliantly programmed
Gay & Lesbian hot pockets of stripped-down Indies while feeding a mainstream hunger for
high polished hijinx.

Kicking-off the 12 day festival, which takes hold of theaters from downtown LA to the Sunset Strip (DGA) to the speedon’t feed the lifeguard beaches (Laemelles 2nd Street) is Sundance ’03 underground fav, PARTY MONSTER. Starring Seth Green, Chloe Sevigny , Dylan McDermott and puff-lipped HOME ALONE prince, Macauley Culkin as NYC Club Kid Michael Aleg, PARTY MONSTER highlights the low-life of Aleg who glammed the 80’s glitz right up his nose.

FilmFestivals.com spoke with OUTFEST LA Sr. Programmer, Kristian Salinas, about the present focus and future state of this double decade-old institution:

“OUTFEST continues to explore tough life choices and sensitive issues while still embracing mainstream moviemaking at its best,” Kristen explains. “OUTFEST lends both a voice and venue to the unheard artist struggling with universal truths while nurturing a broad focus of storytelling: equal parts humor and pathos.” As for the focus and direction OUTFEST hopes to sustain, Salinas offers,
“OUTFEST works hard to find original work that follows individuals/stories that deal with what happens after you come out.”

OUTFEST has expanded its Platinum Showcase of shorts to include such offerings as “Adolescent Boys in Living Rooms” which spotlights a “Boys just being boys” menu of shorts where teens skateboard, skin knees and get monkey-bar bruises all in the name of long forgotten freckled Kool-Aid fun.

This year’s Award Night film, PREY FOR ROCK & ROLL (July 20th –JA Ford Amphitheatre) starring Marc Blucas (BUFFY’s 2nd boy toy) Lori TANK GIRL Petty and Gina Gershon (BOUND) directed by Alex Steyermark, tells the story if an all-girl rock band on the verge of becoming the next “bust” thing. The film precedes the Grand Jury & Audience Awards ceremony hosted by roly-poly Oscar monologue mouthfeeder, Bruce Vilanch. The evening’s highlight however, is the Artistic Achievement Award presented to director, Jane Anderson who’s daring feature, NORMAL, starring Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkenson (IN THE BEDROOM, THE FULL MONTY) profiles a woman drowning deep inside a man’s body – which premiered to raves in Park City this January. With her previous credits including TEXAS CHEERLEADER MURDERING MOM and IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2, former standup, Anderson, often mines difficult material, translating stark absurdity into sobering states of humanity.

However, what’s most unique about the OUTFEST in LA programming, are the “Shorts blocks” that cater to audiences looking for girls on film or boys in the band. Outstanding shorts blocks that serve one’s distinguishable cine-pallet include HOT DOCS, NUTS LANDING and TICKLE ME HOMO.
Rounding out the festivities on Closing Night (July 21st @ The Orpheum) is MAMBO ITALIANO, a big fat Mama Celeste meets Chef Boyardee farce set in Montreal’s Little Italy. Director Emile Gaudreault’s feel-good feature is the perfect film confection to conclude OUTFEST 21, where rainbows really do last longer than the rain.

-Craig Parish