22nd Edition Of OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Goes Virtual August 20 - 30
OUTshine Film Festival 6360 NE 4th Court, Boca Raton, Florida 33138
OUTshine Film Festival
Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt) is an endearing romantic comedy that appeals to all generations and genders by bundling humor, heart and history into a beautifully crafted narrative. Pictured are the title’s leads Abbie (Zoe Terakas) and Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw). Also, Mo (past OUTshine Award recipient Haaz Sleiman), a practicing Muslim living in West Hollywood, is learning to navigate life post-heartbreak with hunky, all-American Kal (Michael Cassidy) in Breaking Fast, a romantic comedy available exclusively for streaming during the 22nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Virtual Film Festival.
The 22nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, a bi-annual film festival whose mission is to unite the community through social events and LGBTQ+ media that inspire, entertain, and educate, is going virtual! For the first time in the organization’s history, 80 new contemplative, comedic and creative films from 20 countries, (many never-seen-before and not available on any streaming platform) with 44 screenings will be made available to viewers throughout the state of Florida from August 20 – 30, 2020. The festival will also host livestreamed special events with cocktail happy hours, talent and Q & A sessions as a way to virtually tie the community together.
In keeping with social distancing guidelines and community safety, this year’s festival kicks off on August 20 at 7 p.m. with OUTshine's Opening Night Drive-OUT, a preview of Stage Mother, at the Drive-In Theater at Dezerland Park (14401 NE 19th Avenue, North Miami, FL 33181). Stage Mother, starring Oscar-nominated Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom), Adrian Grenier (Entourage, The Devil Wears Prada) and Emmy-nominated Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels, Elementary, Ally McBeal), is a comedy drama about a conservative Texas church-choir director who moves to San Francisco in attempt to save her recently deceased son’s drag club from bankruptcy. In the process, she finds new meaning for her life and embraces the club’s flamboyant performers.
This year’s line-up includes Centerpiece film The Goddess of Fortune (La Dea Fortuna) (Italy), Drama-Comedy on August 26 at 7 p.m.; a Ladies Shorts Package Night on August 22 at 5 p.m., a Men’s Shorts Package Night on August 23 at 5 p.m.; a South Florida Speaks – Shorts Program on August 30 at 5 p.m., Closing Night film Single Street (Singel 39) (Netherlands), Comedy on August 30 a 7 p.m.; and two FREE Community Showings - Letters to Eloisa (USA), Drama on August 22 at 3 p.m. and TRANSformations – a Trans Shorts Package on August 29 at 3 p.m.
A full list of films and descriptions can be found at outshinefilm.com/films/program.
Presenting sponsors of the 22nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Virtual Film Festival are Gilead Sciences and Miami-Dade County.
Tickets for the 22nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Virtual Film Festival are on sale, now, at outshinefilm.com/buy-tickets. Prices for individual films are $12 each and value packages range from $60 to $350.
For additional information about OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival memberships and film packages, call 877-766-8156 or visit outshinefilm.com. Follow us on Facebook @OUTshineFilmFestival, on Twitter @OUTshineFilm and on Instagram @OUTshineFilm.
About OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival
The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival is a bi-annual film festival with a mission to unite the community through social events and LGBTQ+ media that inspire, entertain and educate. Launched separately - in 1998, as The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and in 2008, as the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - both editions were brought together under one brand to become the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Encompassing brightness, broad appeal and dynamic multicultural locations, OUTshine is internationally acclaimed as the largest LGBTQ+ cultural arts festival in the southeastern United States. OUTrageous. OUTspoken. And OUTstanding in what we deliver. For more information, call 877-766-8156, visit us at outshinefilm.com and follow us on Facebook @OUTshineFilmFestival, on Twitter @OUTshineFilm and on Instagram @OUTshineFilm.