Outfest held a four-day event from July 23 to 26 at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre in Hollywood. The program featured more than 30 films and shorts after a two-year hiatus.
OutfestNEXT screened works including Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex,” Brydie O’Connor’s “Barbara Forever” and Alexandria Stapleton’s “The Brittney Griner Story.” Most screenings at the 183-seat venue sold out or reached standby status.
Interim executive director Christopher Racster described the shorter format as an opportunity to experiment following financial troubles, a legal battle and staff layoffs. A new board of directors was appointed last September, with Lucas Bailey serving as president since January 2024.
Racster said the organization aims to host OutfestNEXT twice a year while expanding educational programs such as a producers lab and the return of Outfest Fusion. Bailey noted efforts to repair community relations and build a sustainable funding model.