Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival
The world's most important LGBTQ+ film festival, held annually in July in Los Angeles, presenting competitive international and American films by and about LGBTQ+ communities with significant industry presence and distribution connections.
Overview
Outfest Los Angeles is the world's most important LGBTQ+ film festival. Founded in 1982 by UCLA students and held annually in July in Los Angeles, the festival presents competitive international and American films by and about LGBTQ+ communities to the largest and most influential LGBTQ+ entertainment industry audience in the world.
Los Angeles's position as the global capital of the entertainment industry gives Outfest a unique context among LGBTQ+ festivals. The festival operates at the intersection of queer community celebration and Hollywood industry engagement, with studio executives, producers, directors, and distributors attending alongside community audiences.
Outfest has been instrumental in the careers of LGBTQ+ filmmakers and in advancing the mainstream distribution of LGBTQ+ content over four decades of operation.
Key Sections
- World Cinema Competition -- international LGBTQ+ films competing for the Grand Jury Award
- US Fiction Competition -- American narrative LGBTQ+ films
- Documentary Competition -- nonfiction LGBTQ+ films
- Short Film Competition -- LGBTQ+ short films
- TransFocus -- programs specifically focused on transgender stories
- Fusion -- LGBTQ+ films by people of color
What Filmmakers Should Know
Outfest accepts open submissions. The LA industry presence creates direct connections with the studios, streaming platforms, and distributors most active in LGBTQ+ content. Outfest has a strong track record of channeling films into mainstream theatrical and streaming distribution.
Major Awards
- Grand Jury Award -- Best International Film
- Best US Fiction Film
- Best Documentary
- Audience Award -- across categories
Festival History
Outfest was founded in 1982 by UCLA students and has grown into the world's most influential LGBTQ+ film event.
See Also
For LGBTQ+ film distribution, see Distribution Deals Explained. For Frameline San Francisco, see Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
