The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — most well-known for its annual Oscar awards telecast — is awarding Atlanta’s LGBT Out on Film fest not a golden statuette but rather a $2,700 grant.
“We are honored at the support and grateful at the Academy’s continued support of film festivals. Having filmmakers as part of our festival has become a vital, nationally-recognized element of what we are about,” said Jim Farmer, Out On Film festival director, in a statement.
Out On Film is one of just 23 U.S. festivals that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has funded for next year in the 16th year of the Academy’s Film Festival Grants Program, Farmer said.
The $2,700 grant will be used for 2014 filmmaker appearances and Q & A sessions, Farmer said.
The 2013 Out on Film took place Oct. 3-13 and was the most attended in the fest’s 26-year history. More than 6,500 people watched everything from feature-length films to shorts to documentaries, all with LGBT themes. This year also boasts the most filmmakers that attended Out on Film.
Out on Film was founded in 1987 and is one of the oldest and largest LGBT film festivals in the country, Farmer said.
The 2014 fest is being planned and will be held Oct. 2-9, 2014. A thank you patron/sponsor party for this year will be Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. at the Phillip Rush Center.