Over a decade ago, I vividly remember trying to pull together a panel of queer Atlanta filmmakers for an Out On Film event. It was not successful — I had fewer than five people show up. Things have changed since that time. Atlanta is now one of the busiest filming locations in the world and the amount of talent that is living and working in the area — and who have relocated here — is staggering.
That makes running an Atlanta film festival so exciting. In years past, I would struggle to find enough area and original content, which is important for every film festival to have. Nowadays, the struggle is figuring out what we have the room to show.
What we have amassed this year makes me very proud. Emmy-nominated trans icon Scott Turner Schofield spent many years in Atlanta staging work such as “Underground TRANSit” at various venues. Another early project was “Becoming a Man in 127 EASY Steps,” Schofield’s long-running performance art piece embodying the experience of becoming a man. More than 15 years later, after a long journey, it is now a film, much of it shot at 7 Stages here in Atlanta. Out On Film is honored to offer up the world premiere of the film version — directed by Andrea James and Puppett — and Scott will be present at the screening and after for a Q&A. We cannot wait.
Another Atlanta film in this year’s lineup is “Light Up,” Ryan Ashley Lowery’s documentary following the lives of same-gender loving men and a transgender woman who found their superpower by living in their truth. It’s very Atlanta, with some enthralling subjects.
Didi Paulini and Jennifer Spell’s “Transcendence” is another world premiere documentary featuring seven Atlanta subjects who share stories of embracing their true selves as transgender individuals. Atlanta subjects also headline Jean-Luc Bonefacino’s documentary “They Are Siufung” and Matt Nadel’s documentary short, “Cashing Out.”
Out On Film is also offering two programs of Atlanta/Georgia-specific short films from some very accomplished filmmakers, and talent from these projects will be on tap to talk about their projects and the importance of what they do. Atlanta is all over our programming and we could not be happier. It’s an exciting time to be in the city, and the amount of talent here makes us incredibly happy.
Speaking of happy, this year’s Out On Film theme is Queer Joy. Queer joy is something we all need and deserve, especially after so many years where everything we saw in terms of LGBTQ representation in movies and TV was tragic and dour. That does not mean, however, that everything you will see at this year’s festival will be peppy. Much will be, but we do address some of the challenges we face in our lives, both external and internal, at a very critical time in our history. Queer Joy does mean, though, you will get to see the projects together and experience the pleasure of communal viewing.
We open our festival with a charmer — Anthony Schatteman’s exuberant Young Hearts, which has been wowing audiences since its bow at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year. We close with High Tide, Marco Calvani’s expertly directed and acted film about a young man — undocumented and adrift — in the aftermath of a breakup in Provincetown. In between, we hope there is something for everyone.
Every year around this time, I get a variation of the same question: why do we need LGBTQ film festivals these days, when there’s so much LGBTQ-themed content elsewhere? It’s a question I never get tired of answering, especially in this heated political climate, with so much anti-LGBTQ sentiment, so much anti-drag sentiment, so much anti-trans sentiment. LGBTQ film festivals are vital to bringing people together in an environment focused on positivity and positive images, one that serves as a safe haven for people to be themselves. At a time when so many LGBTQ spaces are going away, bringing people together will always be needed. And just as important as the 150+ films Out On Film hosts every year and the filmmakers whose work we screen and amplify, uniting our community is vital.