LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s first LGBTQ festival honoring indie, digital short films will return for a second installment this weekend.
Out Web Fest will include two days of screenings and panel discussions at the Downtown Independent Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday and Sunday and an awards ceremony on Friday in Playa Vista.
“As an LGBTQ-inclusive festival dedicated to new and emerging queer and allied storytellers, Out Web Fest is more important than ever at this time in history,” Christopher J. Rodriguez, the festival’s head of programming, said in a press statement.
The Friday awards ceremony is free, but tickets must be reserved via the website.
Saturday and Sunday tickets range from $20 to $75.
Gigi Gorgeous and Tyler Oakley will be recognized at the awards ceremony for their contributions to queer digital storytelling. Also, the documentary “This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous,” from Oscar winning director Barbara Kopple, will be screened.
YouTube will host the awards ceremony at its YouTube Space LA. In March, YouTube was heavily criticized by the queer community when it began restricting LGBTQ-themed content, including political videos. After intense pressure, YouTube changed the option.
In the documentary, “Gigi Gorgeous: This Is Everything,” a family’s acceptance is tested when a champion diver, destined for the Olympics, announces he’s transitioning into a woman and invites his YouTube followers along for every moment. The movie will be screened Friday as part of Out Web Fest. Photo: “Gigi Gorgeous: This Is Everything.”
