Outfest Begins Tonight
July 9, 2009
Outfest, the 27th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, begins tonight and features 182 films from 25 countries over the span of 11 days.The Opening Night Gala is tonight at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and features La Mission, a powerful film from writer/director Peter Bratt. The film stars Peter’s brother, Benjamin Bratt, as Che, a former inmate and recovering alcoholic who reacts violently when he discovers his beloved son Jesse is gay.
The film premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and the cast participated in a Q&A at the Queer Lounge, a program of GLAAD:
In related news, Variety printed an excellent article about the prominence of lesbian films at this year’s Outfest:
Chasity Kershal Hammitte in Mississippi Damned
“We have two centerpieces geared toward women, Tina Mabry’s ‘Mississippi Dammed’ and Lucia Puenzo’s ‘El Nino Pas,’” says Outfest exec director Kirsten Schaffer. “And the Legacy Project gala is ‘Choosing Children’ (1984), which is more oriented toward lesbians. We also have Nancy Kissam’s ‘Drool,’ which was a huge success at Slamdance this year. And there’s ‘Ghosted’ from Monika Treut, who has a huge lesbian following.”
Diversity is key at Outfest, yet it’s an uphill battle for women, if only because there are always so many gay-male pics to contend with. “Any year we have the opportunity to highlight films by female directors we do,” says Schaffer. Last year, “there were definitely films that were lesbian, but they tended to be international and smaller films.”
Tickets are still available for numerous screenings and may be purchased at the Outfest website.
Related Posts:Benjamin Bratt, Peter Bratt & More Talk Up La MISSION
January 21, 2009
Brothers Benjamin and Peter Bratt visited the Queer Lounge yesterday with their cast and crew in tow, to talk up their new Sundance film, La MISSION. The movie addresses homophobia in ethnic communities and machismo culture, and promises to be an emotional and powerful film.
Castmembers Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez and Jesse Borrego also sat on the panel, as well as John Amaechi, who helped fund the project. It was a lively discussion, one that was received well by the capacity crowd.
Please enjoy this panel in its entirety.
LGBT Film Panels, Prop. 8 Highlight QL Events
January 16, 2009
Join us in Park City this week for a series of exciting panels on the state of LGBT film. All panels take place on the third floor of Queer Lounge, 608 Main Street. And check back here for video highlights after the events.
TRYING TIMES: THE FUTURE OF LGBT FILM FESTIVALS
Saturday, January 17, 2009, 12:00 PM
Panelists: Kirsten Schaffer (Outfest), Jennifer Morris (Frameline), Orly Ravid (New American Vision, Senator Entertainment), Paul Rachman (Slamdance), and Carol Coombes (Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival).
Moderator: Lesli Klainberg (Newfest)
While film festivals face an uncertain future in the current economic climate, queer film festivals face even more significant challenges as they struggle to hold onto sponsors and attract younger audiences who are more accustomed to streaming media on their computers. While many mainstream festivals now showcase a robust range of LGBT programming, there is still a need for the LGBT community to hold onto their own festivals even with increasing questions of their financial viability and relevance. Difficult times often inspire great creative innovation, and many festivals are finding ways to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing new media landscape. Join representatives of some of the leading festivals in the country for a discussion of what these 21st century models of film festivals might look like, and how LGBT film can and does influence mainstream film festivals.
SHORT FILMS – YES, THERE IS A MARKET!
Saturday, January 17, 2009, 3:00PM
Panelists: Maria Wolfe (Wolfe Video), Tiffany Shlain (Dir., The Tribe), Joe Wilson (Prod/Co-Dir., Out in the Silence), other panelists TBA.
Moderator: Roberta Marie Munroe (author, How NOT To Make a Short Film: Secrets From a Sundance Programmer)
Following the bust of the dot-com era, a generation of online filmmakers looking for alternate methods of reaching an audience helped drive the success of user-generated websites like YouTube, Revver and Funny or Die, sending short film submissions to festivals through the roof. At Sundance alone, submissions went up over 60% between 2003 and 2004, but people kept asking, “How will shorts make money?” Through DVD compilations, downloads and even big-screen release, it’s happening. Last year, Magnolia Pictures theatrically released a compilation of the 2008 Oscar® nominated shorts that made an astonishing $500,000 at the box office, while some shorts on iTunes receive residual checks of up to $80,000. Join us for this interactive panel about the current state of the short film market and find out how some filmmakers are using their shorts to raise capital for feature-length versions of their films.
LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS, FILM ACTIVISM & PROPOSITION 8
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 2:30PM
Panelists: John Cooper (Sundance Film Festival®), Rob Epstein (Oscar® Winning Dir., The Times of Harvey Milk, Celluloid Closet), Rashad Robinson (GLAAD), Matt Coles (ACLU), Dayna Frank (HOMOtracker, F.A.I.R.).
Moderator: B. Ruby Rich (Cultural Critic; Professor UC Santa Cruz)
This past November, the passage of Proposition 8 eliminated the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples in California, prompting swift public marches, boycotts, frustration and determination from local LGBT communities. Prop. 8 is arguably one of the most galvanizing moments in the gay rights movement. As filmmakers, what can we do to further the dialogue? Film and the LGBT movement have had a historical interplay. From the Stonewall Riot of 1969 to the murder of Harvey Milk, from the AIDS crisis to the hate crimes that claimed the lives of Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard, film has amplified the effects of the grassroots groundswell to these events. This panel tackles the integral roles filmmakers have played in the LGBT movement as well as the emerging power of new media, the blogosphere and social networking sites utilized by the Activist 2.0 generation.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TO THE SCREEN: NAVIGATING HOLLYWOOD WITH LGBT CONTENT
Monday, January 19, 2009, 3:00 PM
Panelists: Christine Vachon (Prod., Boys Don’t Cry, Motherhood), Ryan Werner (VP of Marketing, IFC), David Permut (Prod., Prayers for Bobby, Face/Off), and Daniel Sladek (Prod., Prayers for Bobby).
Moderator: Kyle Buchanan (Film Critic, The Advocate, Defamer.com)
Years ago, it was inconceivable that in suburban America, a cineplex could simultaneously offer the choice of Transamerica, Capote and Brokeback Mountain, each a success in their own right. Though box office profit is crucial, films like these also spark new discussions about the LGBT community and transform American opinion. Yet, LGBT projects have to carefully navigate their way through Hollywood’s cautious approach to get made, and not every one emerges unscathed. The development process might transform once multi-dimensional LGBT characters into neutered or exaggerated caricatures. And in a global economy, studios contemplate international perceptions of LGBT issues. Hear from filmmakers who have successfully navigated LGBT-content films through the development, packaging, financing, marketing, and even Oscar® and Emmy® campaign stages of Hollywood.
La MISSION: A STORY OF CULTURE, CLASS AND INTOLERANCE
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 1:00PM
Panelists: Peter Bratt (Writer/Director) and cast members Benjamin Bratt, Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Jesse Borrego and John Amaechi (Consulting Producer).
Moderator: Mike Goodridge (Screen International)
This Sundance Spectrum premiere tells the story of Che, an ex-inmate and working-class single-father who commands respect in San Francisco’s Mission District often through intimidation and fear. Che is a man entrenched in the old world culture of his Latino and Native American communities, who reacts with anger and violence upon discovering his son is gay, and later is forced to confront his own prejudices and demons. Director Peter Bratt teams with his brother Benjamin Bratt to bring this character to life in a powerful performance. The result is a rich film that tackles the topic of homophobia in minority communities and families, as well as the machismo culture. Join the cast and filmmakers for an insightful discussion of the film and the very timely issues around culture and sexual orientation that it addresses.
ROAD TO PARK CITY AND BEYOND: LAUNCHING YOUR FILM CAREER
Co-Sponsored by Film Independent
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 3:00 PM
Panelists: Steak House (Prod., Weather Girl), Morgan Stiff (Prod., Mississippi Damned), Tina Mabry (Dir., Mississippi Damned), Cherien Dabis (Dir., Amreeka), Tze Chun (Dir., Children of Invention), Glenn McQuaid (Dir., I Sell the Dead).
Moderator: Josh Welsh, (Dir. of Talent Development, Film Independent).
Making a film can be a daunting prospect, but launching an entire career as a filmmaker is typically an even more intimidating and overwhelming proposal. There isn’t exactly a bar exam for first time directors or producers, and with so many associated costs, no one can afford to spend money unwisely in rocky economic times. From film festivals, to production courses and labs, to online and viral marketing, to TV and commercials, there are many ways to get a film career off the ground, but not every plan works for every person. So how do you know what’s the right path for you? With the guidance of Sundance and Slamdance filmmakers, many of whom have participated in Film Independent’s Filmmakers Labe, discover how to kick-start your career and hit the ground running.
THE OUTSIDERS: FORMING IDENTITIES FROM THE MARGINS
Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 12:00PM Noon
Panelists: David Brind (Co-Producer/Writer, Dare), Mary Jane Skalski (Prod., Dare, Mysterious Skin), Lee Daniels (Dir., Push, Shadow Boxer), Gabourey Sidibe (Actor, Push), and Steve Kelly (Dir., City Rats).
Moderator: TBA.
While strides have been made in mainstream acceptance and equality, LGBT youth often still grow up feeling marginalized. As any openly gay person can attest, this may profoundly affect the lives we lead, for both good and bad. One of the most important social contributions of film has been to expose audiences to life experiences far removed from their own and the common ground we all share. This year’s festival films continue that great tradition: Included among the array of outsiders we see are high school students questioning their sexual orientation in Dare, an HIV-positive young girl in Push, and a young man who is both gay and deaf in City Rats. On this panel, filmmakers will discuss how they crafted identities for young characters on the outside looking in.
La MISSION
December 22, 2008
LGBT Content: Gay
Genre: Drama
Rating: NR
Director: Peter Bratt
Writer: Peter Bratt
Starring: Benjamin Bratt, Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Jesse Borrego, Talisa Soto Bratt
Distributor: TBA
Release Date: TBA
Synopsis: A recovering alcoholic and ex-con that gets by on intimidation, Che is also a devoted father to teenage son Jesse, who he violently rejects after discovering that Jesse is gay. Prompted in part by his headstrong neighbor Lena, Che must confront his long held prejudices to repair his parental relationship.
Premiering at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
Screening Times
Monday, January 19, 8:30 pm Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Wednesday, January 21, 2:30 pm Library Center Theatre, Park City
Friday, January 23, noon Egyptian Theatre, Park City
Saturday, January 24, 9:45 pm Broadway Centre Cinemas V, SLC
