CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OUTFEST 2006:
THE 24th LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN
FILM FESTIVAL, July 6-17

Screenwriting Lab To Promote Promising Screenplays To Occur During The Festival

Outfest 2006, one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian film festivals, opens its call for submissions for completed narrative, documentary, experimental and animated films and videos (both features and shorts). Held in Los Angeles July 6-17, 2006, Outfest invites filmmakers from across the country and around the globe to submit their work and join in the celebration of the gay and lesbian community’s vision and artistry. Submission forms, rules and regulations are available on the Outfest web site – www.outfest.org. The submission deadline is March 10th and final decisions will be announced by May 31st.

Additionally, the lauded Outfest Screenwriting program will be celebrating its eigth anniversary, continuing Outfest’s commitment to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-themed films from conception to exhibition. The Screenwriting Lab nurtures emerging screenwriters and promotes promising screenplays that significantly feature lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender characters and/or themes. The Lab will occur July 12-14, in conjunction with Outfest 2006. The submission deadline is January 27th. Submission forms are available on the Outfest web site – www.outfest.org.


“Outfest remains at the very forefront in presenting the stellar stories, images and performances of queer cinema to both the LGBT and mainstream communities,” noted Executive Director Stephen Gutwillig. “It is with great pride that we gather to honor the global impact these films and their talented filmmakers have on our everyday lives. Our commitment to excellence and entertainment is achieved by bringing the best, brightest and most insightful and entertaining cinema to audiences.”

Outfest 2006 will have the most extensive awards program of any gay and lesbian film festival, bestowing 16 awards for film and video excellence including the $5,000 HBO Outstanding First Narrative Feature Award. Moreover, as the only gay and lesbian film festival in the heart of the entertainment industry, Outfest's Access LA program offers comprehensive services for emerging filmmakers to forge connections in Hollywood. These services include: one-on-one industry meetings, a five-part breakfast series and dozens of parties and receptions where filmmakers meet representatives from the industry, other festivals and international LGBT media outlets. Since 1982, more than half a million people have attended Outfest events and screenings of more than 4,200 highly diverse films and videos.

Outfest is the pre-eminent and largest gay and lesbian multimedia entertainment organization in the world. Outfest’s mission is to build bridges among audiences, filmmakers and the entertainment industry through the year-round exhibition of diverse, high quality gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themed films and videos, and to raise the discourse on gay and lesbian issues. Its programs include:

Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the oldest and largest continuous film festival in Los Angeles.

Outfest Wednesdays, since 1999 the oldest LGBT-themed weekly screening series in the country.

Fusion: The Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival, the only multi-cultural, gender-inclusive People of Color Film Festival.

Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, the first film preservation program in the world dedicated to saving and protecting LGBT films.

Outfest Screenwriting Lab, nurturing emerging writers and outstanding LGBT-themed screenplays.

Access LA, forging connections between filmmakers and established industry professionals.

Email: programming@outfest.org