The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival returns to theaters in Fort Lauderdale, Oct. 13 – 23, and once again, cinemaphiles across the Sunshine State will have the opportunity to participate, thanks to streaming services.
The 14th annual Fort Lauderdale festival will showcase 51 films from 25 countries at live screenings, artist meet-and-greet sessions and panel discussions at the newly renovated Gateway Theatre on Sunrise Blvd. and the Savor Cinema, just south of downtown.
The festival opens on Oct. 13 at the NSU Art Museum with “The Blue Caftan,” a critical and audience favorite from the Cannes Film Festival in France. Filmed in Morocco, France, Belgium and Denmark, “The Blue Caftan” is a romance about a married master tailor who falls in love with his young apprentice. The film will screen in the museum theater, followed by a party in the gallery.
Director of Programming Joe Bilancio said, “The festival allows us to come together through film to socialize and create community, and to be in a theater with people like us — all shapes, sizes, colors and identifications — and to feel safe. The vibe in the theatre is electric and the after-parties allow us to meet the filmmakers and stars, as well as community leaders who are making South Florida a wonderful place for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Tickets for most films are $14 plus fees, while tickets for opening, centerpiece and closing events are $35 plus fees and include admission to afterparties.
Additional highlights include “In from the Side,” a drama about two rugby players who engage in a torrid love affair; “The Five Devils,” a fantasy about a strange little girl with a magical gift; “The Tiny Shrimps Fight Back,” a comical look at a gay water polo team that gets stranded in homophobic Russia; and “The Return of Tanya Tucker,” a musical salute to the country music legend led by singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile.
The diverse festival line-up also includes horror, thriller and mystery films, television-style series, documentaries, shorts and musicals, covering the entire LGBT spectrum. And, nearly a quarter of the films are either North American, East Coast or regional premieres.
For the third time since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered venues, most films are also being offered via streaming services for viewing within 3 days of the live screening. Due to licensing restrictions, online screening is limited to customers within the state of Florida. Tickets for most streaming options are $14.
“I have been programming LGBTQ+ festivals for a long time and rarely do I remember so many quality films being made. We have something for everyone this year, whether it's documentary, fiction, or shorts. This year's program of films will not disappoint,” promised Bilancio.
Tickets for all OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival in-person and virtual screenings are available at OUTshineFilm.com. A discounted 10-film pass is also available for $75. Virtual screenings are only available within the state of Florida.
