Outfest 2013 Annual Report

OUTFEST UCLA LEGACY PROJECT

CREATING CHANGE. ONE STORY AT A TIME.

ANN UAL REPORT 2013 OUTFEST LOS ANGELES

OUTFEST FORWARD Developing the next generation of artists and filmmakers through education and mentoring.

OUTFEST UCLA LEGACY PROJECT The only program in the world dedicated to protecting LGBT films for future generations.

OUTFEST FUSION Spotlighting the diversity of the LGBT community.

OUTFEST LOS ANGELES 11 days of world-class films, discussions, and parties.

MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/KIRSTEN SCHAFFER

D

EAR FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS,

This year has reinforced my belief that Outfest is a vibrant community. We are home to filmmakers, film lovers and people seeking LGBT equality. We are an unmatched cultural institution that spans from Los Angeles to New York City—and beyond. But most importantly, Outfest reflects our shared humanity. We are a community that creates, shares, and protects LGBT stories, using their power to drive social change.

Outfest is a mirror and a megaphone, reflecting and affirming the rich diversity of the LGBT experience. Through our film festivals—Outfest Los Angeles, Outfest Fusion, and NewFest—we connect diverse populations to discover, discuss, and celebrate stories of LGBT lives. The ripple effect of our work can be felt worldwide. Films from our festivals and films made by our Outfest Forward Fellows are screened internationally. And, for the past two years, we have brought queer films to Kosovo in an historic partnership with Prifest and the US Embassy.

We are fiercely proud of our reputation as the vanguard of queer media arts and as a champion and protector of our community’s own stories.

Through the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, we have established the largest collection of queer films anywhere in the world—over 30,000 works! In addition, we work tirelessly to reach underserved communities through mentorship and education, through our community collaborator program, and through our free ticket distribution programs.

With the historic overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act, we have been inspired to work harder, dream bigger, and continue to reach for what is rightfully ours—equality for all. So we continue to expand our efforts, incorporating NewFest—soon to be Outfest New York—and building a stronger national presence. Huge strides have been made in the thirtytwo years since Outfest began, but there is still more work to be done to ensure that our stories are seen and heard.

We are creating change. One story at a time.

Sincerely,

OUTFEST/WHO WE ARE

WE TRULY ARE CREATING CHANGE… ONE STORY AT A TIME

JAYZEN PATRIA SPONSOR

LESLIE BELZBERG BOARD MEMBER

LEYLA FARAH DONOR

Executive Director, Talent Development, NBCUniversal

Sr. VP Scripted Production, Shine America

Account Director, Oracle

“As a media and technology company, Comcast and NBCUniversal’s goal is to reach all communities with the stories we tell and Outfest allows us to have that reach not only into the LGBT audience, but also to the LGBT storytellers themselves, which is a really unique place to be.”

“Outfest brings together many factions of our LGBT community to share a similar experience, but everyone shares it differently, and we do it together.”

“Outfest is a showcase of cultural touchpoints that represent the fabric of LGBT life. Whenever I see an Outfest film, I always feel that I leave educated about a new aspect of our community’s history.”

O

UTFEST IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION at the intersection of the LGBT community, the entertainment industry, and the arts. From these powerful resources we draw together storytellers, creators, mentors, and advocates with a goal of promoting LGBT equality.

Outfest harnesses the undeniable influence movies and media have to change hearts and minds in achieving this goal. We foster the creation of LGBT film through our Outfest Forward program. We share our stories through the Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival.

We ensure that the diversity of our experience is represented through Outfest Fusion. And, we protect these stories for the future through the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project.

BILL LEBOEUF VOLUNTEER AND MENTOR

DENNIS WILLIAMS SPONSOR

Sound Engineer, E! Entertainment Television

VP Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO

“The most important aspect of Outfest for me is volunteering for the OutSet program. Being involved with the program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entertainment career. It has given me a real sense of worth within the LGBT community.”

“A partnership with Outfest provides HBO with a valuable resource with which we can build on the inclusion and diversity that already comprises the foundation of our programming philosophy.”

While our home is in Los Angeles, our efforts reach across the nation and across the globe. Films we help to create, share, and protect make the world an easier place for the gay man in the Midwest who is struggling with coming out, the parents of a transgender daughter as they share in her newly-found happiness, and the queer couple raising their first child.

We truly are creating change in the world…one story at a time.

6,000+ FILMS SCREENED

OUTFEST/OUR STORIES

15 OUTSET GRADS ANNUALLY

120+ PARTICIPANTS YEARLY

OUTFEST FORWARD

W “OUTFEST is family, and we are all in this together.”

—DAMONE WILLIAMS & JENISE WHITEHEAD

HILE CREATING THEIR FILM Gideon’s Cross as Fellows in an Outfest Forward program, filmmaking partners Damone Williams and Jenise Whitehead found themselves on a journey. As young filmmakers going through Outset: The Young Filmmakers Project from LifeWorks and Outfest, and working with the many wellknown filmmakers from the Outfest community, they experienced the invaluable mentorship and knowledge needed to succeed.

The endless support of the Outfest community is a major part of what Outfest means to Damone. Jenise agrees, “The idea of community can come off as being a bit cliché, but at Outfest it rings true.”

The very personal experience of seeing their film evolve from concept to script to finally being shown on the big screen during Outfest Fusion has inspired them to pursue careers in filmmaking.

They directly attribute their participation in the OutSet program for the awakening of their creative aspirations and untapped talents.

“My dream is to create amazing work that challenges, inspires, and enlightens,” states Damone. The experience for Jenise was equally transformative. “I was always fascinated by camera work, but didn’t think I wanted to pursue it. This experience has literally changed the direction of my professional goals.”

Both accept the challenge of their generation. They are now using storytelling skills learned at Outfest on the front lines in the continued struggle for equality. Damone professes, “Anything that we create will be of substance only if we consider those who came before us and their art.”

Their message is clear: Outfest makes dreams come true.

OUTFEST/OUR STORIES

OUTFEST FUSION

“OUTFEST helps make queer people visible, and this fact alone makes OUTFEST indispensable.”

—EDYAEL CASAPERALTA, VOLUNTEER

T

HE HISTORICALLY LATINO COMMUNITY OF HIGHLAND PARK is where Edyael Casaperalta calls home. This culturally diverse area also served as home to Outfest’s inaugural Fusion Lab in 2013. Edyael had what she considers “the amazing opportunity to coordinate the community outreach.”

“It was really empowering to help Outfest launch this potentially life-changing program in a neighborhood that I love,” she commented regarding the program that creates access to filmmaking tools for LGBT people in underserved areas.

While LGBT stories have become more mainstream, the storytellers themselves still struggle to gain access. At risk particularly are those who come from low-income areas and communities rich in diversity. So it is imperative to fund programs such as Fusion Lab. According to Edyael, “Outfest is a place where the folks at the margin of storytelling can find some support.”

Outfest aims to ensure diverse stories are seen and heard.

OUTFEST//OUR STORIES

“We have two loves: hockey and OUTFEST.” —MICHAEL & SCOTT WOJTOWICZ, DONORS

OUTFEST UCLA LEGACY PROJECT

L

IONS AND TIGERS AND RED BEARS…OH MY… Michael and Scott Wojtowicz are devoted to each other, and to their Outfest community. They are advocates who know firsthand that film can break down walls, bringing people to a deeper level of understanding and acceptance.

As young, gay men, they questioned their identities and survived some dark, challenging times. Both turned to film in hopes of finding selfrepresentation. In their search, they found the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project. This film preservation program is one reason why Michael and Scott stay involved.

Protecting LGBT history through film archives is crucial. The impact of such iconic films as their favorite, The Boys in the Band, can literally save lives.

Sharing stories allows the current generation a glimpse into the personal struggles that their community courageously battled. Saving LGBT film history is just one way that Outfest provides unique support to their community.

Active members of the Outfest community, Michael and Scott marked 20 years attending the Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival together.

Their summer is planned around the event. It means so much to them that they were married on the steps of The Ford Theater on the closing night of the 2013 Outfest Los Angeles Film Festival.

Their love for each other moved them to create a moment to share with their community that, in turn, documented their story for the generations that will follow.

OUTFEST FORWARD

“There are many stories that can only be found at OUTFEST.” —JAVIER FUENTES-LEÓN, FILMMAKER

“I

T IS SUCH A LIBERATING EXPERIENCE to be in the same room with a group of gay men and women watching gay cinema,” commented award-winning filmmaker Javier Fuentes-León. He understands that without Outfest, this sort of opportunity would not exist, and he considers the Outfest community vital to him as both a gay man and a filmmaker.

Before he came out, Javier was afraid to attend Outfest, but thankfully, he finally did. His decision resulted in a life-changing experience when he was

selected as an Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellow, forming relationships that led him on his path to becoming the celebrated filmmaker he is today.

The film he developed in the Lab, Contracorriente, was Peru’s official submission to the 83rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, and Outfest was proud to have been a part of Javier’s amazing achievement and, ultimately, his contribution to the LGBT community.

OUTFEST LOS ANGELES

F

ILMMAKER DESIREE AKHAVAN knows the influence that media has on the lives of people. As a child, Desiree couldn’t find any stories that reflected her or her Iranian immigrant family.

As she got older, she didn’t find many screen stories that represented her as a queer woman.

Inspired to share with her family the woman she had grown to be, she began to develop films out of the plays she had created as a child. Now, Outfest has provided her with a farreaching platform to share her view of the world with everyone. This year, Desiree’s film Appropriate Behavior was screened at Outfest Los Angeles.

“I had always hoped one day to see my film on screen at Outfest,” Desiree shared proudly. She considers the opportunity a gift that allows her to connect directly with the people who have been personally affected by her work.

“There is nothing more powerful than seeing yourself represented on screen.”

—DESIREE AKHAVAN, FILMMAKER

More importantly, she believes that Outfest has an undeniable opportunity to help in the struggle of female filmmakers. “Outfest can help solve the millions of reasons why there are not more female filmmakers. The organization has the power to inspire and promote all of us to a whole new level.”

Personally, Desiree cannot wait to bring another film to Outfest. She is excited to collaborate with Outfest and become part of a movement that creates equal opportunities and breaks down barriers for burgeoning female filmmakers everywhere.

OUTFEST/WHY THEY GIVE

WE GIVE BECAUSE WE ARE OUTFEST

C

CODY LASSEN & NITZAN MEKEL-BOBROV MAJOR DONORS “Outfest is stepping up to preserve LGBT films, and is working with LGBT youth to teach them to create the films of the future. No other organization does this.”

ONTRIBUTORS ARE AN INDISPENSIBLE PART OF THE OUTFEST FAMILY. Our contributors give because they believe in the cause and want to be part of the evolution of the LGBT community. They realize that our programs directly impact lives. Their support allows us to continue our work and to fulfill our mission to protect our past, showcase our present, and nurture our future while creating, sharing, and protecting LGBT storytelling.

Additionally, contributors give because Outfest touches their own lives. Involvement in the Outfest community provides them with an opportunity to build lifelong relationships while fueling programs that support our mission. During our screenings, contributors sit together in an audience seeing their experiences finally represented. Simply by attending Outfest, they are supporting a filmmaker’s dream to tell their story on the big screen. Our generous contributors understand the potential of their gifts. We appreciate them for allowing us to deliver our promises to our LGBT community—past, present, and future.

OUTFEST/FINANCIALS STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES, 2013 REVENUE AND SUPPORT Revenue Events & Admissions Corporate Sponsorship Other Income

$

440,264 459,072 26,191

15% 15%

46%

1%

Support Individuals & Foundations In-Kind Contributions

$

696,849 1,387,271

Total Revenue & Support

$

3,009,647

Program Services Support Services Fundraising

$

2,748,459 164,977 119,989

Total Expenses

$

•• •

Revenue Events & Admissions Corporate Sponsorship Other Income

23%

••

Support In-Kind Contributions Individuals & Foundations

EXPENSES

•• •

3,033,425

Net Assets: Beginning of Year $ Decrease in Net Assets Net Assets: End of Year

5%

Expenses Program Services Support Services Fundraising

4%

$

259,794 (23,778 )

91%

236,016

Audited financial statements

••

NET ASSETS, in thousands 400

Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted

350 300 250 200 150

Unrestricted

Temporarily Restricted

Total

2010

$224,682

$136,872

$361,554

2011

108,316

190,522

298,838

100

2012

28,179

231,615

259,794

50

2013

4,401

231,615

236,016

2010

2011

2012

2013

Direct support, through individual and corporate contibutions, grants and in-kind contributions pays for 69% of Outfest expenses.

69% expenses paid for with your support $2,084,120

Total Expenses: $3,033,425

31% paid for with revenue $925, 527

OUTFEST/LOOKING AHEAD

THE FUTURE IS LIMITLESS, BECAUSE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUTFEST ARE ENDLESS

Outfest UCLA Legacy Project/Tales of the City Screening

T 2000 FREE TICKETS TO YOUTH & SENIORS ANNUALLY

QUINCY LENEAR GOSSFIELD & DEONDRAY GOSSETT MENTORS “The OutSet program will become the unequivocal, most sought after, young LGBT filmmakers program in the country. It’s more than a mentorship.”

HIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO, Outfest was created by a group of volunteers who wanted to fight for more and better LGBT representations on screen.

We are proud of what we have grown to be, yet there is still more we want to achieve.

We will continue to protect LGBT films through our Outfest UCLA Legacy Project. We will continue to celebrate our present, reflected in the films at Outfest Los Angeles and Outfest Fusion. We will continue to support emerging voices through Outfest Forward and its programs: OutSet, InFusion, and the Outfest Screenwriting Lab. Together, we will always reach out to those who do not have direct access to our programs and services and help them in transforming their lives.

We invite you to join us, because we are just getting started.

OUTFEST/SPONSORS & MAJOR DONORS CORPORATE SPONSORS $100,000–$250,000 HBO $50,000–$99,999 Absolut Ease Entertainment Merrill Lynch Showtime $25,000–$49,999 Clear Channel Comcast NBCUniversal

LEGEND John & Michael August Scotch Ellis Loring* & Todd K. Holland Frank Pond MOGUL Randy Barbato & Fenton Bailey Schawn Belston* Leslie Belzberg* Dan Bucatinsky* & Don P. Roos Moses Freyre & Robert Murphy Jonathan Howard* & Lee Warren Jones Thomas Lavin* Barry K. McPherson* & Danny Watts Karl Pettijohn Rich Ross & Adam Sanderson Tony Sepulveda Kyle Wade Brent Watson STUDIO EXEC Jonathon Aubry Jay Ayers & Matt Walker Blake Bryant & Jesse Russell Gary A. Carnow & Barry I. Soroka Tod Carson Sanjay Chhugani, Mark Wilson Jordan & Terry L. Dutton Bill Condon & Jack Morrissey Sean Crumpler & Denis Prokopyev Tim Curtis & Shandon Youngclaus Shedrick Davis & Barry Ward Nevin Dolcefino Craig S. Dorfman & Ali Al-Assad John B. Dunn* & Daryl G. Parker Chiedu Egbuniwe* & Michael Phillips Ronald Haft Ryan Harlow-Nakano & Dr. Jeff Harlow-Nakano Brett Hofer MJ Humenuik

Director’s Guild of America DirecTV Frontiers The Hollywood Reporter The Los Angeles Times Sony Pictures Entertainment Variety $15,000–$24,999 Emerson College FotoKem Lichter, Yu and Associates Queerty

Matthew J. Kearns Joseph Keenan* & Jayzen Patria Tim Kittleson & Michael C. Donaldson James A. Maupin & Roy E. Kesrouani David J. Meyer Allison Milgard Charlie Mustachia & David Courier David Newman & Keith Merryman Alex B. Perez* Tom McGrew* & Greg Bishop* Mark Pogachefsky* Alan Poul & Ari Karpel* Richard Racklin Michael Reisz Matt Riklin* David & Bob Schneiderman Kathryn Schox Avantika Shahi & Rayman Mathoda Ben Stilp* Suzanne Westenhoefer & Jeanine Michealson Trammell Whitfield Michael & Scott Wojtowicz EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Stamos Akrivos Cody Alexander Chuck Ansel & Brian Gordon Wendy Armitage Scott Arnovitz & Douglas Yates Mark Arteaga & Bart Verry Jeff Austin Marina Rice Bader John C. & Robert W. Bailey Paris & Christopher Barclay Michael Barrett David Beckwith* & Dietrich Nelson Laura Bengford Marc Better Adam Bialow & Paul Yang Chet Bohac Gerri Brehm Matt Brodlie Steven A. Bryan & Josh Schiowitz

Room & Board Stella Artois TechPal Total Wine and More Yellow Cab $10,000–$14,999 CNN Films Nielsen Los Angeles Travel and Tourism LOGOTV HereTV Milbank Pond5 Pivot

Denis Cagna & Carlos Medina Andre Caraco & David Azulay Joseph Chianese & Dane Whitlock Carlos Ciurlizza Bruce Cohen & Gabe Catone Sean Conley John Cooper & Paul Louis Maillard Jane Costello Nicholas A. Crincoli & Michael J. Widman David B. Cruz & Steve Greene Jill Darling John Paul Davis & Joe Ordway Nannette Diacovo & Julie Ware Robert Diaz & Diego Vallejo JD Disalvatore John Eger & Nick Adams Jeffrey Epstein James Evans Leyla Farah & Kendall Nichols David Fertik & Arnold Pomerantz Michael Fister Michael Fitzgerald Adam Ben Frank Donald T. Freeman & Patrick Shandrick Scott Freeman & Chris Murdzak Kyle Fritz & Jonathan Del Arco Sheri Fults Peter Gal* Matthew Gardea Alan I. Gelman & Atul Gupta Marjorie Gilberg Kevin Goetz Barry Goold Barbara Gottlieb Guido Gotz Clare Graham & Bob Breen Michael Graham Paul Grant & Mark Watrel Lawrence Greifer & Robert Adams Pam Griffith & Nancy Neilson Larry Grimaldi & Bayan Laird

Wolfe Video Studio System $7,500–$9,999 KLCS The Los Angeles Athletic Club Ramada $5,000–$7,499 Saks Fifth Avenue APA BakerHostetler DoubleTree by Hilton Edwards Wildman

Monica Guevara Harlan Gulko Jeff Guthrie & Sebastian De Kleer Stephen Gutwillig & Lano Williams Roy Hamm David Hardy & Barry Goldblatt Kip Hargrove Ron Hartwig & Robert Pierce Jr. Bob Hayes & Jim Burba Jackson Hendrick Alan Hergott & Curt Shepard Dora Herrera David Herrin Will Hodgins & Emmanuel O’Connell Paul Hughes Tim Hughes Page Hurwitz Alexander Irvine Mark Itkin & Bradley Bayou Laura Ivey* & Tristana Ward Andrea James Dan C. Jinks Sean Johnson Derek Jones Dwayne S. Jones Kristie Kaler Alex Kaufman Jonathan King Thomas Kingsley & Daniel Valentine Randal Kleiser Danielle Knight Bob Koherr & Walter Batt Eric Kops Steven C. Kowall & Todd Larsen Ben Kreader & Gary Trethaway Mark Kruger & Mel Lewis Eric Kugler Joe Landry Eric M. Lanyard* & Mike Ashburn Christopher Lawrence Peter Lawrence* Rex Lee Paul D. Lerner & Stephen Reis Joel Lichtenwalter Ted Lin & Tracy Cave Rolando Lira Phil H. Lobel & Robby LaRiviere

The Film Collaborative FilmLA, Inc. Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller, LLP Laugh Factory Lesbian News SAG-AFTRA SAGIndie WME

Stephen F. Macias Valerie Madden* & Michelle Pollino David-Michael Madigan James Magni James Mahan Liz Maldonado & Patricia Wilkie James McGruder John McHugh-Dennis Nitzan Mekel-Bobrov & Cody Lassen Andrea Meyerson & Maria Rogers Tamika Miller Weston Milliken & Anand Pandya Thomas W. Mitchell & Greg Borax Steven Modglin David Moreton John Musella Douglas Morton Jerome J. Nash Brian Newkirk & Loren Ostrow Richard Norman & Patrick Hill Kevin & Don Norte Matthew O’Dorisio & Martin Schwanauer Michael Ostrow & Roger R. Stoker Joel Pashby Jim V. Petrone & Keith G. Kauhanen Philip A. Pierce & Christopher Pilafain Mark Prior & Luc Bernard Christopher Racster Chris Ranta & Brandon Burton Michael R. Reese William J. Resnick, M.D. Jeffrey Richmond Lee Rosenthal & Paul Slight Brian Roskam & Mike Werb Vicente Russo Peter Sadowski Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt

FUNDERS Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Andrew J. Kuehn Jr. Foundation David Bohnett Foundation Hollywood Foreign Press Association The Irvine Foundation Los Angeles County Arts Commission Department of Cultural Affairs, City Los Angeles

Kirsten Schaffer & Linda Kennedy Jerry Schmitz Heather Schuster Edward Skidmore Michael Sluchan Frank H. Smith Austin & Bill Smolka Cherie Song, Esq. & Elizabeth Lande Renne Sotile & MJ Godges Mark Sprecher & Paul Langlotz David Steinberg Scott Strassner & Tim M. Morrison Jackson Strobel & Andrew McQuinn Bert Swartz & Andre Mello David Syner Dannielle Thomas Kevin Thomas & Sam Schad Russell Todd & Dan Lauten Terese Toomey Sklar K. Toy Steven Wolfe Richard Wynn Barbara Zacky The Hon. D. Zeke Zeidler & Jay M. Kohorn *Outfest Board Member This listing is current as of May 16, 2014

30,000+ FILMS PROTECTED

OUTFEST • 3470 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 935, Los Angeles, CA 90010 • 213.480.7088 • www.outfest.org

VOLUNTEER

EMERGING LEADERS COUNCIL

FILMMAKERS

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