Financial troubles could mean a smaller version of the Outfest Film Festival this year

For more than four decades Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, which takes place over two weeks during the summer in various 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 the approximately 20-person staff at the Los Angeles-based nonprofit. However, the city’s 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 current 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, is made up of about 200 or so films and includes various 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 have not otherwise been 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 various reasons, including the writers strike, which affected their programming and fundraising events, building momentum back up after COVID-19, inflation and the rising costs of putting on such a large-scale event as well as 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 currently raising funds to pay approximately $500,000 owed to various 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 Outfest film festival is an event that has an impact far beyond the LGBTQ community.

“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 up with Outfest in the past for some of their programming.

“It’s one of those very special places where industry people, fans, serious artists, filmmakers, young people, old people who are celebrating a passion for film and TV that are queer can really feel at home and excited,” he added.

Besides the flagship film festival, Racster said they will also be holding a Fusion festival celebration 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.

“I have a 12-year filmmaking career as a queer filmmaker because of organizations like Outfest. Without it I wouldn’t have had that career and I want to make sure that for the next 42 years this organization is continuing to invest in our storytellers and also provide that crucial space for our community to come together,” Racster said.