OUTSHINE FILM FESTIVAL FORT LAUDERDALE EDITION - 11 YEARS FEATURING LGBTQ FILMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
By Rafa Carvajal
OUTshine Film Festival Fort Lauderdale returns for its 11th edition October 10-20. What began in 1998 as the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and in 2008 as the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, have merged to become the critically and internationally acclaimed OUTshine Film Festival with two editions – Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The Festival is an ideal platform for talented filmmakers and actors to tell stories about LGBTQ history, and our lives and experiences. In the era of Trump and re-emerging discrimination, LGBTQ silver screen representations are more important than ever, so it’s critical to have a festival dedicated to the lives and struggles of our community. OUTshine allows younger generations to witness and understand the struggles endured by many LGBTQ people in the fight for full equality. The Festival also provides a powerful platform for younger generations to share their unique experiences. Furthermore, OUTshine is a great place to spend quality time with friends and socialize with other gay people and allies who share our appreciation for queer films.
This time around, OUTshine Film Festival Fort Lauderdale’s diverse program brings us 33 award-winning features and debuts, in addition to 18 shorts from 13 countries. The Festival opens at the AutoNation IMAX in the Museum of Discovery & Science with the southeast premiere of Adam, a gay, romantic comedy by Rhys Ernst. The film follows the opening night party at Stache, Fort Lauderdale’s premier cocktail lounge, nightclub and concert hall. Other fun events to attend will include the centerpiece party, and the closing night party and awards ceremony. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit outshinefilm.com.
We sat down with OUTshine Film Festival Executive Director Victor Gimenez to preview what film aficionados can look forward to during this year’s 11th OUTshine Fort Lauderdale edition.
Rafa Carvajal: Tell our readers about the main highlights of the 2019 OUTshine Film Festival Fort Lauderdale edition.
Victor M. Gimenez: The biggest news is that our opening night film will be at the AutoNation IMAX in the Museum of Discovery & Science. Also, we are very proud of our opening night film Adam – a dramedy about a cisgender male teenager who is confused for a transmale as he stumbles through his lesbian sister’s LGBTQ world. This is a Sundance title with a lot of good reviews from people who have watched it, and complaints from those who have not. The story is told very thoughtfully by its director Rhys Ernst.
RC: What films are your personal favorites and why did you like them so much?
VMG: All of our gala spots are incredible films and some of my favorites. The opening night film Adam is my pick for the Festival. The centerpiece film, Defiant Souls, is set in 19th century Cuba and shows you a side and history of Cuba you never see. Closing night’s And Then We Danced has one of the most touching dialogue scenes between a gay man and his macho straight brother. Other festival highlights for me are documentaries Queering the Script about LGBTQ+ representation on television and Gay Chorus Deep South – which shows the importance of getting out of our silos and meeting people different from you. And, because I love quirky humor, I am also a big fan of Cubby and Benjamin.
RC: What are you looking forward to the most about OUTshine Fort Lauderdale this year?
VMG: Same thing I look forward to every year – the people. The patrons who support us, the filmmakers and talent who come, and the new people I meet during the Festival. One of the main points of the Festival is representation matters. By having an avenue for our stories to be shared and seen, we are affecting the lives of people who may believe they are alone.
RC: Will any celebrities be in attendance?
VMG: Yes, we will have star Nicholas Alexander for opening night. We will also have filmmaker and star of Cubby, Mark Blane. From the centerpiece film, Mario Guerra is coming from Cuba. There will also be other filmmakers and stars in attendance.
RC: Why is OUTshine so important for our community and LGBTQ filmmaking in general?
VMG: I’m reminded of a story of a previous board member saying that when he attended FSU, he would drive down for one of the weekends of the festival in order to see LGBTQ stories – to see someone like him and a story similar to his on the big screen. Representation matters. The Festival shows we exist and that our stories matter. It also shows the importance of coming together to witness these stories and be a part of the larger community. Isn’t it more fun to learn our history, be inspired by a journey, laugh at a story with others at the Festival than by yourself at home? OUTshine is important to the community because it allows you the chance after watching a film that made you think, to talk about it with an old or new friend who watched it with you, or encourage you to become involved in a cause you discovered at the Festival.
RC: Is there anything else you’d like to share with Wire Magazine readers?
VMG: If you haven’t been to the Festival, come. If you’ve been to the Festival, become a member. If you are a member, increase your support. Your patronage is what will allow us to shine.
This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 20.2019