2020 OUTFEST FUSION FILM GUIDE

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OUTFEST FUSION. 

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FUSION 2020 

STAFF & 

ASSOCIATES 

DAMIEN NAVARRO 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

TRE’VELL ANDERSON 

FUSION IN FOCUS WRITER 

DANIEL ALVAREZ 

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 

OLYMPIA AMMON 

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 

KAPENA BAPTISTA 

SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR 

SAM CHASE 

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR 

KEVIN CHIN 

PROGRAMMING INTERN 

DANIEL CROOKE 

PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR 

MARISSA FORTUGNO 

FUSION IN FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHER 

ADAM GOLDBERG 

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR 

LEXXI LEDEZMA 

PRODUCTION MANAGER 

BRENDAN LUCAS 

LEGACY PROJECT MANAGER 

MOIRA MCFADDEN 

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 

SARI NAVARRO 

BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE 

KERRI STOUGHTON-JACKSON 

DEPUTY DIRECTOR 

ANDRAE VIGIL-ROMERO 

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER 

SHERYL SANTACRUZ 

PROGRAMMING MANAGER 

JACKELYN SANTIAGO 

MARKETING INTERN 

KYOKO TAKENAKA 

FUSION KEY ART MODEL 

PATRICIO MANUEL 

FUSION KEY ART MODEL 

WILLIAM TELLEZ 

BOX OFFICE MANAGER 

NADEEN TORIO 

FILM GUIDE GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

ZOE URNESS 

FUSION IN FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHER 

MAGALI VIRULA 

INTERNAL OPERATIONS MANAGER 

JESS X SNOW 

FUSION 2020 KEY ART DESIGNER 

TICKETS: 213.480.7065 | outfest.org 3

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OUTFEST FUSION 2020 

¡Bienvenidos a todos! 

Anyone who has met me recently and 

heard me talk impassionedly about 

Outfest knows that I was most excited to 

dig into Outfest Fusion. This festival — founded 

with the dedicated mission of celebrating 

queer and trans people of color at the center of 

the narrative — felt uniquely built to embrace 

all parts of me and remind me of my own 

experiences as a queer Latinx Angeleno. 

Early on in my tenure as Executive Director, 

I set out on an informal inquiry from a select 

sample of my board members, filmmaker 

alumni, students, studios heads, agents and 

development executives to uncover the value 

of what a program like Fusion might evolve 

into for the 2020 decade — a decade that 

will celebrate our 40th Anniversary as an 

organization and our 20th Fusion. 

What quickly became apparent is that unlike 

our flagship festival, it was Outfest Fusion that 

many still considered undiscovered. From its 

proud beginnings, Fusion had all the elements of 

an early SXSW — industry and public workshops, 

a day-long on-site studio symposium for its 

filmmakers, a One-Minute Movie Contest, today’s 

most promising POC storytellers and shorts, 

feature-length and international premieres. 

However, I see this as just the beginning. I 

want to dig deeper into our community and push 

our storytellers even further into the industry 

here in our backyard. I know there still needs 

to be a stronger effort to support POC artists 

across a broader cross-section of entertainment, 

and within our own community, as well. 

When it comes to driving representation in the 

business of filmmaking for diversity and inclusive 

storytelling at scale, I believe Fusion just barely 

scratches the surface. Our workshops and career 

mentorship of persons of color need to embrace 

those from broader backgrounds. We must 

continue to expand exhibition of multicultural and 

multinational stories from artists of every swatch 

and corner of the world. 

That begins now… 

I hope you enjoy Outfest Fusion’s new 

look, program, flavor, expanded industry 

representation, and venues. The team has been 

working non-stop to get us here — and it’s just 

the beginning. 

Muchas gracias por venir a mi gente y 

bienvenidos a Outfest Fusion. 

Warmest regards always, 

Damien S. Navarro 

Executive Director 


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29 

19 

Letter from Outfest 

Fusion Programmers 

8 

14 

Opportunity. Amidst all the exciting features, short films, 

panels, workshops, and performances you’ll get to witness 

at Outfest Fusion 2020, the one word we find most 

represents the audience experience of this festival is “opportunity.” 

When a program focused on LGBTQIA+ people of color 

comes together, the opportunities that it creates for our 

audience are almost exponential. You get the chance to 

experience budding talent creating their first works that buzz 

with the electricity of invention and inspiration; you’re able, 

perhaps for the first time, to view queer life through the lens 

of a country that you may never have fully considered — India, 

Kazakhstan, Brazil; and you have the rare opportunity to interact 

with those creators in an environment that is safe, inclusive, 

and encourages lively conversation. 

Outfest Fusion’s potential has grown and evolved in its nearly 

two decades. We feel honored to be the conduit through which 

so many gifted artists will get to share their visions, and through 

which successful craftspeople can pass their knowledge along 

through workshops and talkbacks. And we hope that in doing 

so, you feel empowered to recognize the value and importance of 

your sharing your own story. Fusion is not only about celebrating 

the full rainbow of talent in our community but also about breaking 

down boundaries so others can find it in themselves. 

But the experience shouldn’t end on closing night at the 

Finale. Another opportunity for you, the audience, is to spread 

the word. Some of the artists in our Fusion program have already 

won awards, had major festival play, and are beginning exciting 

careers in their chosen field — others are just finding their 

footing. You play a crucial role in their development, simply by 

telling others about what you’ve seen and loved. If the work you 

see at Fusion moves you like it moved us, go tell somebody. You 

might help an artist get their work seen by a wider audience, or 

you might help light a fire in another aspiring artist. 

Sincerely, 

Mike Dougherty, Director of Festival Programming 

Sheryl Santacruz, Programming Manager 

Outfest Fusion is the people of color-focused and 

international film, music and storytelling festival that 

spotlights breakthrough works from today’s most 

exciting underground artists, musicians, and creators. 

Fusion is where the next generation of storytellers 

and cultural ambassadors are discovered. 

3 Sponsors 

5 Letter from 

Executive Director 

7 Letter from 

Programming Team 

9 In Focus: Andrew Huang 

11 Fusion Gala & Fusion Finale 

12 Fusion Films 

14 In Focus: Mary Evangelista 

16 Panel & Screening: 

Making a Lasting Mark in 

the Entertainment Industry 

17 Schedule at a Glance 

19 In Focus: Elegance Bratton 

& Chester Algernal Gordon 

26 Fusion Workshops 

29 In Focus: Isabel Sandoval 

30 Film Index 



(LILY CHAN AND THE DOOM GIRLS) 

PHOTO CREDIT ZOE URNESS 

Andrew Huang’s way of thinking 

is otherworldly. One look at his 

short Lily Chan and the Doom 

Girls, a spinoff of a feature film he’s 

working on, and that becomes clear. A 

coming-of-age fantasy about a Chinese 

American girl in the 60s, the short 

serves two purposes: as an amusebouche 

of sorts to introduce us to a 

new visual language where beehives, 

hair, and cigarettes come together; and 

to assert the enduring visibility of Asian 

folks onscreen. 

“I grew up seeing photos of my 

parents during the 60s and 70s and 

I have yet to see a film that puts 

Asian faces in the center of that era,” 

he says. “It’s important to show 

audiences that we were there and 

existed at that time and place.” 

With a background in fine art, visual 

effects, puppetry, and animation, the 

Los Angeles-based filmmaker is known 

for his works that meld Sinofuturist 

folklore, mysticism, and spiritual 

realism. He was Grammy-nominated 

earlier this year for the music video 

to FKA twigs’ “Cellophane” and has 

collaborated in the past with Björk. 

And the fact that his work has been 

exhibited worldwide, from New York 

City’s Museum of Modern Art and Los 

Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art 

to The Sydney Opera House, should 

come as no surprise considering his 

filmmaking inspirations: Thai director 

Apichatpong Weerasethakul, British 

screenwriter Terry Gilliam, and Italian- 

Canadian director Floria Sigismondi, a 

perfect mix of his interests in “dreamy 

spiritual realism, Hollywood-level fantasy 

production without being in Hollywood, 

and post-goth,” he says, laughing. 

“I hope queer creators of color are 

inspired to put their own stories on 

screen that live outside the confines of 

social realism,” he continued, sharing 

his wishes for Fusion audiences 

viewing his work. “There’s so much to 

imagine beyond this reality, time, and 

place. Let’s take ourselves there.” 

Lily Chan and the Doom Girls 

plays in SHORTS: HOW DO I 

SAY THIS? on Saturday, March 7 

at 8pm at Regal L.A. Live. 


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Friday | March 6 | 7:30pm | JACCC 

FUSION GALA 

Outfest Fusion 2020 opens with a 

night of celebration. We are back at 

the Japanese American Culture & 

Community Center where Outfest 

Fusion started over 16 years ago. The 

night kicks off with a special award 

presentation honoring Blackhouse 

founder Brickson Diamond with the 

Fusion Achievement Award and writerdirector 

Nancy Mejia with the inaugural 

Spotlight Award. The Fusion Gala 

Shorts program showcases a collection 

of exemplary QTPOC short films by 

emerging artists that brim with a mastery 

of craft, adventurous and incisive 

storytelling, humor and heartbreak, and 

truly embrace the intersectionality of 

our LGBTQIA+ family. The night is only 

beginning as we move outside onto 

the Plaza for a fun-filled night OF music, 

dancing, bites sponsored by Hyundai and 

AN Effen Vodka and Angel City Brewery 

hosted bar. The Fusion Gala connects our 

community with one another in a joyous 

atmosphere of inclusivity. 

BUBBLE (dir. Alyssa Lerner, USA); BUCK 

(dirs. Elegance Bratton & Jovan James, USA); 

DARLING (dir. Saim Sadiq, Pakistan/USA); 

KILLER WORKOUT (dir. Sara Werner, USA); 

SEXTPERT ADVICE (dir. Tobit Raphael, USA); 

SPILT MILK (dir. Cierra Glaude, USA). 

Tuesday | March 10 | 6:00pm Pre-Reception | 

7:30pm Screening | 9:00pm Post-Reception | Los Angeles Theater Center 

FUSION FINALE 

plus ONE MINUTE MOVIE CONTEST 

Come join us as we wrap Outfest Fusion 2020 with style and talent like no 

other. Celebrate the closing night of the festival with libations, food, music, 

and see the premiere showcase of films submitted for the One-Minute 

Movie Contest. Previous winners have included a host of leather daddies, 

everyday citizens, and even a mad-mom-in-a-minivan who have joined the 

ranks of the most cherished and celebrated filmmakers up on the stage to 

collect the coveted award. 

We all know that submitting your first film for exhibition is a big step, so come 

and join your own premiere party or if spectating is more your style, join us for a 

first look at tomorrow’s brightest voices, and get in on the ground floor! 

Did we mention there will be music and performances you will love, 

along with cocktails, wine and food? Oh, what will you wear? So whether 

you’re a filmmaker, artist, student, parent, barista, industry local, executive, 

or just someone who loves movies — don’t miss this final party. 



Saturday | March 7 | 

12:00pm | Regal Cinemas 

LINGUA 

FRANCA 

DIR. ISABEL SANDOVAL/USA 

Olivia works as a caregiver 

to an elderly Russian- 

Jewish woman, while 

planning a marriage of 

convenience to obtain a 

green card and worrying 

about whether I.C.E. will 

discover her before that 

can happen. But when 

she becomes involved 

with her employer’s 

troubled grandson, the 

line she walks as an 

undocumented Filipina 

trans woman begins to 

unravel. Writer-directorstar 

Isabel Sandoval 

sensitively tackles these 

heavily politicized issues 

from a personal and wholly 

authentic viewpoint, giving 

us a heroine imbued with 

grace, determination, and 

nuance. 

Saturday | March 7 | 2:45pm | Regal Cinemas 

WE ARE THE RADICAL 

MONARCHS 

DIR: LINDA GOLDSTEIN KNOWLTON/USA 

WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS synopsis cuts off before it’s 

finished. Should read as: Meet the Radical Monarchs, a scouting 

troop in Oakland where Thin Mints are put aside in favor of 

earning badges like “Black Lives Matter” and “Radical Beauty.” 

Queer activists Anayvette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest cofounded 

the Monarchs to create a safe space in their community 

for young women of color to learn about social justice, selfacceptance, 

body positivity, inclusion, intersectionality, allyship, 

and more. From their upstart beginnings through the divisive 

2016 election, the urgency of their mission is ever-salient as they 

inspire a new generation of fierce, feminist warriors! 


SHORTS: OUR FRIENDS 

& LOVERS 

Whether you’re a long-term couple, an extended chosen family, 

or a pair of boyfriends getting physical for the first time, there’s 

no doubt that queer relationships of all stripes come with 

guaranteed drama. The characters in these shorts handle the 

rough roads of love, sex, and friendship with the warmth and 

biting humor that it’s sometimes necessary for a queer person 

to wear like armor in today’s world. 

BDAY (dir: Andrew Lush, USA); DIRTY (dir: Matthew Puccini, USA); 

DRIP LIKE COFFEE (dir: Anaiis Cisco, USA); FLOURISH (dir: Heather 

María Ács, USA); GAMERS (Searit Huluf, USA); WHO CAN PREDICT 

WHAT WILL MOVE YOU (dir Livia Huang, USA). 

12 @outfest #outfestfusion



TWENTIES 

Creator Lena Waithe’s energetic and 

hilarious new BET series chronicles the 

lives of Hattie, a queer black woman in 

Los Angeles, and her two best friends as 

they pursue their dreams, manage parttime 

lovers and demanding bosses, and 

pause for necessary Waiting to Exhale 

soundtrack sing-alongs. Cast members 

JoJo Gibbs, Christina Elmore, and Gabrielle 

Graham will join us for a sneak peek of the 

series’ first two episodes, followed by a 

post-screening discussion! 


SHORTS: TO BE YOUNG, 

QUEER, AND BLACK 

Defying barriers and binaries in community, culture, and family, 

these films dive deeply into the world of self-made spirits 

cultivating belonging through the truth of artistic expression. 

Reaching beyond their neighborhood, societal and family 

expectations, we are invited to witness the gifted journey of 

young, queer, and Black voices as innovative, bold, and bravely 

calling in a future of dynamic equity, expression, and wonder 

rising from grief to personal and collective triumph. 

HOMEGOING (Dir: Carlton Daniel, USA): LIME (Dir: Donta Storey, 

USA); WHERE MY GIRLS (Dir: Mads Engel, USA); SHÉÁR AVORY: 

TO BE CONTINUED (Dir: Abram Cerda, USA); -SHIP: A VISUAL 

POEM (Dir: Terrance Daye, USA); SUPER ZEE (Dir: Nathalie 

Younglai, Canada). 



(LA GLORIA) 

PHOTO CREDIT MARISSA FORTUGNO 

La Gloria plays in SHORTS: LATINXCELLENCE on 

Monday, March 9 at 9:30pm at Plaza de la Raza. 

Mary Evangelista’s filmic inspirations can be boiled down 

into three people. The first is Xavier Dolan “because of 

the way he’s brought Preston Sturges-level melodrama 

to contemporary queer cinema.” The second, she says, is “Jane 

Campion because every feeling and tone in The Piano springs forth 

from the screenplay.” The third is Lucrecia Martel “for her ability to 

craft realistic multigenerational and nuanced narratives with such 

innovative and beautiful cinematography and sound design.” 

Knowing this, it’s no surprise that Evangelista aims “to make 

something that instigates people to feel deeply, to possibly have 

them consider something in a way they haven’t before.” After all, 

she says, “it is the filmmaker’s job to surprise the audience.” 

Perhaps then that’s precisely what viewers of her short La 

Gloria, written by Stephanie Adams-Santos, should expect. 

About the yearning to be seen and recognized by someone you 

love, the film conveys “absolutely how powerful and redemptive 

a connection between two generations of women can be, 

especially for queer folks going through a hard time,” she says. 

“I hope the Fusion audience feels the warmth and hopefulness 

we’ve tried to imbue in this story of this young queer hero of 

ours,” she adds, “and to relive or experience the feeling of being 

seen by another, especially by a family member. It can be such an 

uplifting feeling of release to have that.” 


Proud to be 

Part of the 

Outfest Fusion 

Family. 

langers-0220-out.qxp_langers-0220-out Entertainment Industry Tax Specialists 2/5/20 562-436-0829 11:52 AM | taxprose.com 

Page 1 

IS PROUD TO SUPPORT 

OUTFEST 

FUSION 2020 

www.thewalllasmemorias.org 

213-483-8050 LANGERSDELI.COM

16 @outfest #outfestfusion 

OUTFEST FUSION 2020


FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH 

THEATER 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 

JACCC ARATANI 

THEATRE (880) 

7:30pm FUSION GALA 

JACCC 

COURTYARD 

9:30pm-12 midnight 

GALA AFTER-PARTY 

SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH 

THEATER 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 

REGAL L.A. 

LIVE 11 (286) 

11:30am MAKING A 

LASTING MARK IN 

THE ENTERTAINMENT 

INDUSTRY PANEL 

4:15pm SPECIAL 

EVENT: TWENTIES 

6:15pm SHORTS: TO BE YOUNG, 

QUEER, AND BLACK 

9pm EL PRINCIPE 

REGAL L.A. 

LIVE 13 (175) 

12pm LINGUA FRANCA 

2:45pm WE ARE THE 

RADICAL MONARCHS 

5:30pm I AM THE 

OTHER ONE 

8pm SHORTS: 

HOW DO I SAY THIS? 

SECOND 

HOME 

11:30am - 1:30pm 

WORKSHOP: THE LGBTQIAS 

OF ACTING 

2 - 4pm WORKSHOP: 

MAKING A MOVIE WITH 

YOUR SMARTPHONE 

4:30 - 6pm WORKSHOP: 

BUILDING AN AUTHENTIC 

ONLINE BRAND 

SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH 

THEATER 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 

REGAL L.A. 

LIVE 11 (286) 

2:30pm WALKING 

WITH SHADOWS 

5pm FUSION’S RISING 

STARS PANEL 

7pm: DRIVEWAYS 9:15pm: BREAKING FAST 

REGAL L.A. 

LIVE 13 (175) 

12:30pm SHORTS: 

BEYOND BORDERS 

3:15pm WELCOME 

TO THE USA. 

8:30pm SHORTS: THE ART 

OF SELF-EXPRESSION 

SECOND 

HOME 

12 - 1:30pm 

WORKSHOP: 

CRAFTING A PITCH 

THAT SELLS 

2 - 3:30pm WORKSHOP: 

FILM JOURNALISM 

& CRITICISM—A 

CRASH COURSE 

4 - 5:30pm 

ROUNDTABLE: 

WRITERS ON 

WRITING 

MONDAY, MARCH 9TH 

THEATER 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 

PLAZA DE LA 

RAZA (200) 

7pm MOSQUITA Y MARI 9:30pm LATINXCELENCE 

TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH 

THEATER 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 

THE LOS ANGE- 

LES THEATRE 

CENTER (400) 

6pm FUSION FINALE PARTY & ONE MINUTE MOVIE CONTEST 


Un cortometraje del director Nick Oceano (Pedro) 

Las Familias de PFLAG en Español 

Un cortometraje del director Nick Oceano (Pedro) 

Mira la pelicula: pflagnation.al/lasfamilias. 

/pflag @pflag @pflag 

Estamos aquí para todas las familias. 

Mira la pelicula: pflagnation.al/lasfamilias. 

/pflag @pflag @pflag 

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(BUCK, -SHIP: A VISUAL POEM, HOMEGOING) 

The world loves a power couple, 

and Elegance Bratton and Chester 

Algernal Gordon are well-deserving 

of the moniker. They’ve been quietly 

creating works that center the Black 

queer and trans experience for some time 

now, as writers, directors, producers, and 

costume designers. A quick sampling 

of their filmography includes Viceland’s 

award-winning docuseries My House, 

the Martin Scorsese-backed and Cannespremiering 

Port Authority, and the feature 

documentary Pier Kids, which earned 

Bratton Outfest’s Emerging Talent award 

last year, among others. The pair is back 

in these industry streets this year with 

three projects. They both produced 

Terrance Daye’s Sundance-winning short 

-Ship: A Visual Poem and Carlton Daniel’s 

Homegoing and Bratton co-wrote and 

co-directed and Gordon produced the 

Sundance-selected short film Buck with 

Jovan James. 

Of Buck, which is inspired by the tragic 

deaths of Gemmel Moore and Timothy 

Dean at the hands of major political donor 

and West Hollywood resident Ed Buck, 

Bratton says he and James “crafted a 

tale that explores the power dynamics 

between white gay men and young Black 

men in the world of chemsex.” 

“I have many friends who’ve picked up 

meth habits as result of survival sex work 

and clients who demanded Party ‘n Play 

scenarios,” he continues. “At the same 

time though, we wanted to keep track of 

the humanity of the men who desire this 

type of companionship. It’s important for 

audiences to experience Buck because 

the film is a guide and celebration of 

the remarkable power of our shared 

vulnerability and a reminder that both 

predator and prey are uniquely human.” 

Both Bratton and Gordon strive to 

broaden the representation of Black 

queer and trans folks onscreen through 

their work. 

“My intentions are to champion voices 

who inspire true change in humanity and 

make life on the planet better for every 

species,” Gordon says. “Creating art and 

helping facilitate getting art made and seen 

by unique voices that have not been able 

to have a spotlight on them in Hollywood 

and the art world is very important to me. 

It inspires new thought and conversation 

that nudges society’s hearts to be a little 

softer and minds to be more open.” 

And even if the world isn’t ready for 

their cinematic visions of yesteryear and 

tomorrow — inspired by the likes of Pedro 

Almodóvar, Claire Denis, and Mike Leigh 

for Bratton and Sheila Nevins, Christine 

Vachon, and Radha Blank for Gordon — 

they’re coming anyway with a goal of 

engendering self-love in audiences. 

“I want them to love themselves 

and know that whatever they are going 

through — emphasis on through — they 

will get past it and grow,” Gordon says. 

Next on their shared horizon is 

Bratton’s fiction feature debut, The 

Inspection, about a homeless man who 

joins the Marine Corps to change his life 

but must conceal his attraction to his drill 

instructor to survive boot camp. They’re 

also developing a Buck television series, 

meaning there’s more Black queer 

storytelling to come. We love to see it! 

Buck plays in the FUSION 

GALA SHORTS on Friday, 

March 6 at 7:30pm at the 

Japanese American Cultural 

& Community Center. 

-Ship: A Visual Poem and 

Homegoing play in SHORTS: 

TO BE YOUNG, QUEER, AND 

BLACK on Saturday, March 7 

at 6:15pm at Regal L.A. Live. 

PHOTO CREDIT ZOE URNESS 



Saturday | March 7 | 5:30pm | 

Regal Cinemas 

EU, UM OUTRO 

/ I AM THE 

OTHER ONE 

DIR: SILVIA GODINHO/BRAZIL 

(INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE) 

Luca Scarpelli, Raul Capistrano, 

and Thalles Rocha — three 

Brazilian men of trans 

experience — invite director 

Silvia Godinho into their lives for 

a bold filmmaking experiment. 

With an enthralling blend of 

documentary and performance, 

Godinho’s vibrant, politicallyactive 

subjects navigate romantic 

entanglements, fights with local 

government bureaucracy, and 

plans for the future. Godinho 

allows these men to exist in 

heightened versions of their 

realities, and in doing so, crafts a 

rare and sensitive portrait of their 

struggle to live authentically. 


EL PRINCIPE / THE PRINCE 

DIR. SEBASTIÁN MUÑOZ/CHILE, ARGENTINA, BELGIUM (LOS ANGELES PREMIERE) 

In a Chilean prison in 1970, handsome 20-year-old convict 

Jaime is thrust into the cutthroat world of cruelty, reprisals, 

and clandestine arrangements, becoming the protégé of 

El Potro, a fearsome older inmate whose domination gives 

way to reciprocity. Adapted from a little-known pulp novel, 

this gritty, titillating story of sex, longing, and survival in the 

tradition of Querelle and Kiss of the Spider Woman explores 

the curious affections that form between men amid the most 

abysmal of circumstances. Winner of the 2019 Venice Film 

Festival’s Queer Lion. 


SHORTS: HOW DO I SAY THIS? 

Amongst tender moments, heartbreaking rejection, and cool SoCal 

nights, the films in this program ask: How do you tell someone 

what’s really going on — the complete and unadulterated truth? 

Whether revealing you want to be more than friends, accepting 

a diagnosis that will change your life, or admitting that you need 

help, these films focus on one of the hardest things for a person to 

do: open up and let themselves be vulnerable. 

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE (Dir: Leandro Goddinho, Germany); DOWN DOG 

(Dir: Shae Xu, USA); KAMA’INA (Dir: Kimi Howl Lee, USA); LILY CHAN 

AND THE DOOM GIRLS (Dir: Andrew Thomas Huang, USA); PLUS (Dir: 

Andrew J. Rodriguez, USA); TENDER (Dir: Felicia Pride, USA); TOUCH 

(Dir: Song Huang, China); SAME, OLD (Dir. Haya Alghanim, USA). 



Sunday | March 8 | 12:30pm | 

Regal Cinemas 

SHORTS: 

BEYOND 

BORDERS 

Stories centered around first- and 

second-generation immigrants 

across multiple continents 

investigate the tension between 

fulfilling familial obligations, 

meeting cultural expectations, 

and adjusting to a new country, 

all refracted through the prism 

of a queer lens. From the threat 

of deportations to romantic 

awakenings, through discovering 

histories to revealing traumas, 

this program celebrates the 

beauty and texture of our 

intersectionality and varied 

experiences. 

AYANEH (Dir: Nicolas Greinacher, 

Switzerland); THE HOUSE OF 

MARIANA Y GABRIEL (dir: Hena 

Ashraf, USA); MARCO (Dir: Saleem 

Haddad, UK); SAFE AMONG 

STARS (Dir: Jess X. Snow, USA); 

TOMGIRL (Dir: Vonne Patiag, 

Australia); UNSPOKEN (Dir. Patrick 

G. Lee, USA). 

Sunday | March 8 | 2:30pm | Regal Cinemas 

WALKING WITH SHADOWS 

DIR: AOIFE O’KELLY/NIGERIA, UK (WEST COAST PREMIERE) 

In Lagos, Nigeria, Ebele Njoko has been running all his life. A 

search for acceptance and love from his family has led him to 

recreate himself as Adrian Njoko, respected father, husband, 

and brother. Suddenly, Adrian’s past and secrets have caught up 

with him, and his world soon begins to crumble as he frantically 

tries to control the growing ripple effect of a revelation. Adapted 

from Jude Dibia’s award-winning novel. 

Preceded by SECRET (dir. Sheryl Lee Ralph) 


WELCOME TO THE USA 

DIR: ASSEL AUSHAKIMOVA/KAZAKHSTAN 

Aliya has just won the lottery: the Green Card Lottery that will 

enable her to emigrate to the United States. In this wonderfully 

observed slice-of-life portrait of post-Soviet Kazakhstan, 

Aliya navigates keeping her aging mother company, an affair 

with a taken woman, her sister’s unhappiness in a strict 

Muslim marriage, and the futility of living in a place with little 

opportunity to build the life you desire — all while trying to find 

a way to tell them she’s leaving it behind. 

Preceded by UMBILICAL (dir. Danski Tang) 




Regal Cinemas 

FUSION’S 

RISING STARS 

Their magnetic talent has lead 

their careers to the verge of a 

major breakout, and now these 

six young, up-and-coming 

queer-identified actors of color 

will come together at Fusion 

to discuss their pathway to 

success in the industry, the 

relatively new space being 

carved out for QTPOC in film 

and television, and their advice 

to young hopefuls seeking 

to follow in their footsteps. 

Discussion will be moderated 

by Co-Editor in Chief of The 

Advocate, David Artavia. 

Panelists include: Zuri Adele 

( Good Trouble); Adam Faison 

(Everything’s Gonna Be Okay); 

Alexandra Grey (Empire); Poppy 

Liu (Sunnyside); Leo Sheng 

(Adam, The L Word: Generation 

Q); Tonatiuh ( Vida). 


Regal Cinemas 

DRIVEWAYS 

DIR: ANDREW AHN/USA (LOS 

ANGELES PUBLIC PREMIERE) 

In Andrew Ahn’s Spirit 

Award-nominated sophomore 

feature, Kathy (Hong Chau) 

and her sensitive, young son 

Cody arrive in a small New 

York town to clean out the 

house of Kathy’s recently 

deceased sister. While mother 

and son adjust to their new 

surroundings and take stock 

of a life that’s starved for 

direction, they begin to form 

surprising new relationships 

— including with a kindly old 

neighbor (Brian Dennehy) 

whose friendship with Cody 

awakens deep regrets from 

his past. 




Regal Cinemas 

YEH FREEDOM 

LIFE / THIS 

FREEDOM LIFE 

DIR: PRIYA SEN/INDIA (WEST COAST PREMIERE) 

Amongst the cacophony and chaos 

of Ambedkar Nagar, a dense, diverse, 

and largely working-class district, two 

queer Indians maneuver love and the 

complications of their relationships. 

We are wholly immersed in Sachi’s 

and Parveen’s world over the course 

of a year; as the city hosts festivals 

celebrating outmoded notions of love 

and a woman’s worth, they persevere 

to be with the women they love despite 

cultural and familial pressure to marry 

men, unrelentingly searching for the 

freedom to live their lives authentically. 

Preceded by SAVING CHINTU (dir. Tushar 

Tyagi) and I KNOW HER (dir. Fawzia Mirza) 


SHORTS: THE ART OF 

SELF-EXPRESSION 

Lyrical, innovative, and exhilarating, these short films examine 

queer people from all walks of life discovering their voice, tapping 

into their creative powers, and embracing bold new styles of selfexpression. 

Deploying a myriad of mediums and visual elements, 

this dynamic and eclectic program offers unique cinematic takes 

on dance, poetry, sculpture, erotica, and music — all filtered 

through the eyes of queer and trans POC individuals feeling their 

way through the world. This is an exuberant and vital collection of 

vanguard voices staking their claim in life and art. 

ACROSS, BEYOND, AND OVER (Brit Fryer and Noah Schamus, USA); 

BLOCKED (Dir: Kevin Yee, USA); FLOSS (Dir: Popo Fan, China/Norway/ 

Hong Kong); GO GO, BOY! (Dir: Oriana Oppice, USA); INFERNO 

(Dir: Andrew R. Blackman, New Zealand); JESSE JAMS (Dir: Trevor 

Anderson, Canada); SELF WORSHIP (Dir: Asia Brown, USA); SOLARITY 

(Dir: Marianne Verrone, USA); 2 BLACK BOYS (Dir: Rachel Myers). 


BREAKING FAST 

DIR: MIKE MOSALLAM/USA (LOS ANGELES PREMIERE) 

Breaking out of your shell in West Hollywood can be 

overwhelming, especially when you’re a practicing gay Muslim 

like Mo (Haaz Sleiman, The Visitor ). But on the first night of 

Islam’s holiest holiday, Mo’s longtime boyfriend Hassan abruptly 

breaks off their relationship, leaving him heartbroken and 

without a sous chef for iftar. Romance with the All-American 

Kal may be just around the corner if only he can keep his 

thoughts pure and the past behind him in Mike Mosallam’s 

charming Ramadan rom-com. 



Monday | March 9 | 7:00pm | Plaza de la Raza 

Legacy Project Screening: 

MOSQUITA Y MARI 

DIR: AURORA GUERRERO/USA 

Winner of the Best First Feature Award at Outfest Los Angeles 

2012, Aurora Guerrero’s refreshingly earnest portrait follows 

the budding friendship between two Chicana high schoolers in 

Huntington Park. The shining hope of her Mexican immigrant 

parents, Yolanda strives for a better life through academics, 

while her rebellious and charismatic neighbor Mari navigates the 

precarity of undocumented life with her family. When Yolanda 

begins to tutor Mari in geometry, inner uncertainties clash with 

outer realities, as they chart their own form of independence 

while bound by obligations of family and the obstacles of their 

working class upbringings. 

Preceded by VIERNES GIRL and PURA LENGUA (Aurora 

Guerrero, 2005) 

Monday | March 9 | 9:30pm | 

Plaza de la Raza 

SHORTS: 

LATINXCELLENCE 

Witness the vibrant cascade of the queer 

Latinx spirit in this exciting and rich 

collection of new short films. Here are tales 

of resilience in a world of hate, of dignity 

in the face of oppression, and of love 

found in unexpected places. These films 

zero in on specific worlds and characters 

whose triumphs and struggles resonate 

and inspire beyond race or gender. Taken 

together, these Latinx short films speak to 

the profound transformative powers of a 

living life authentically. 

ACUITZERAMO (dir: Miguel Angel Caballero, 

Mexico/USA); LA GLORIA (dir: Mary Evangelista, 

USA); THE NIGHT, UNSHELTERED (Iñaki 

Velásquez, Chile); TO BE WITH YOU (Dir: Elliott 

Feliciano, USA); TRUE TO YOU (Dir: Jacob 

Charton, USA); WONDER (Dir: Javier Molina, 

USA); YUNIOR (Dir: Francisco Cabrera-Feo, USA). 


ADVERTISEMENT


Saturday | March 7 | 11:30am | Second Home 

THE LGBTQIAS OF ACTING 

TAUGHT BY RAIN VALDEZ 

Calling all LGBTQIA, non-binary, and POC actors! Actress 

and filmmaker Rain Valdez will show you acting techniques 

to help you navigate Hollywood as a queer actor. Talent of 

all levels are encouraged to attend and prepare a one to 

two minute monologue for class. 

Saturday | March 7 | 2:00pm | Second Home 

HOW TO MAKE A MOVIE 

WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE 

TAUGHT BY CHESTER ALGERNAL (WITH JOVAN JAMES) 

Have a story to tell but don’t know where to start? Come 

learn the tools and techniques in this crash course on how 

to make high-quality short films using what you already 

have. Producer Chester Algernal Gordon will use their 

expertise to put your ideas in front of the camera. You will 

leave inspired and ready to create your own film! 

Saturday | March 7 | 4:30pm | Second Home 

BUILDING AN AUTHENTIC 

ONLINE BRAND WITH 

KALEN ALLEN 

TAUGHT BY KALEN ALLEN 

With over 600 million cross-platform views of his 

original content in just two years time, Kalen Allen 

has become one of the internet’s most well-known 

personalities for his “Kalen Reacts” videos, landing 

him over 1 million Instagram followers and a spot on 

The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Now, in an age when 

younger folks increasingly look to YouTube and social 

media to make their voices heard, Kalen will share his 

own insights and advice on how to captivate a huge 

audience of followers and maximize opportunities. 

Participants in this workshop are encouraged to bring 

ideas for their own online presence, for potential 

feedback from Kalen himself! 



Sunday | March 8 | 12:00pm | Second Home 

CRAFTING A PITCH 

THAT SELLS 

DAVID SIGURANI (NETFLIX’S BONDING, 

AMC’S THIS CLOSE, NETFLIX’S VERMIN) 

Discover the best way to present your project 

in order to hook a producer, actor, or executive. 

Having developed and sat through way too many 

pitches, queer Latinx producer and creative 

executive David Sigurani will work you through 

the elements of an undeniable story pitch. From 

your story’s world, theme, and tone to your 

beats and characters, stir up all the necessary 

ingredients to establish why you should be 

the one to make the next hit film or TV series! 

Participants in this workshop are encouraged 

to prepare a three minute pitch of their current 

project for potential feedback. 


FILM JOURNALISM & 

CRITICISM: A CRASH COURSE 

TAUGHT BY TRE’VELL ANDERSON 

Who gets to write about the films, stories, and artists that 

matter to you? QTPOC writers are largely underrepresented 

at major outlets, and access to opportunity can be tough. 

Journalist and critic Tre’vell Anderson will guide you through 

the business of pitching to outlets, surviving the freelance 

game, while also advising you on the basics of writing style 

that’ll get your work noticed by the right outlets. Participants 

encouraged to bring in maximum 200-word capsule reviews 

or write-ups for possible feedback! 


TV WRITERS’ ROUNDTABLE 

MODERATED BY NNEKA ONUORAH 

Join this diverse group of writers as they discuss their 

professional experiences in the television industry. Geetika 

Lizardi, Henry Alberto, and Mfoniso Udofia will get real 

about what really happens in the writers’ room and what it 

takes to survive and thrive. 


PROUD SPONSOR OF 

MARCH 2020


(LINGUA FRANCA) 

PHOTO CREDIT MARISSA FORTUGNO 

Lingua Franca plays on Saturday, 

March 7 at 12pm at Regal L.A. Live. 

Isabel Sandoval is clear that as a trans Filipina, the act of filmmaking is inherently 

political. In fact, “it’s a brazen act of defiance and resistance,” she says, noting 

her hope to “inspire and embolden other filmmakers and creators of color [to] 

tell our stories.” 

Lingua Franca is Sandoval’s third dramatic feature, and her first film shot and 

produced in the United States. About an undocumented trans Filipina caregiver 

trying to obtain a green card, she’s unapologetically leaning into the poltics of 

it all. But she cautions that the picture is more than just the “social-issue film 

[it appears to be] on paper” as it showcases her distinctive sensibilities as a 

filmmaker. 

“I gravitate to stories of marginalized women who find themselves making 

personal choices in fraught sociopolitical milieus,” she says. “Having undergone 

my gender transition as an immigrant of color in the U.S. in the last few years, I 

felt drawn to the fictional predicament of Olivia, the main character.” 

Seemingly, others in the broader filmmaking community are also drawn to 

Lingua Franca’s subject — and its “sensuous, beguiling, and lyrical” nature — 

as it world premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last year, making 

Sandoval the first trans director to ever compete at the festival. 

“Creativity is what fuels me, so I’m very grateful that my work has been 

supported by prestigious international films festivals and critics, reassuring me 

that I’m not totally [absurd] to pursue this path,” she says, adding “I can’t imagine 

a life without cinema.” 

“I’ve always taken artistic risks with every new film I make and trusting my 

instincts all the way have paid off more often than not so I’m not going to stop now.” 



-Ship: A Visual Poem 13 

2 Black Boys 23 

Across, Beyond, and Over 23 

Acuitzeramo 24 

Ayaneh 21 

BDay 12 

Before It’s Too Late 20 

Blocked 23 

Breaking Fast 23 

Bubble 9 

Buck 9 

Darling 9 

Dirty 12 

Down Dog 20 

Drip Like Coffee 12 

Driveways 22 

El Principe (The Prince) 20 

Floss 23 

Flourish 12 

Gamers 12 

Go Go, Boy 23 

Homegoing 13 

I Am The Other One 20 

I Know Her 23 

Inferno 23 

Jesse Jams 23 

Kama’āina 20 

Killer Workout 9 

La Gloria 24 

Lily Chan & The Doom Girls 20 

Lime 13 

Lingua Franca 12 

Marco 21 

Mosquita y Mari 24 

Plus 20 

Protected 16 

Pura Lengua 24 

Safe Among Stars 21 

Same, Old 20 

Saving Chintu 23 

Secrets 21 

Self Worship 23 

Sextpert Advice 9 

Shéár Avory: To Be Continued 13 

Solarity 23 

Spilt Milk 9 

Super Zee 13 

Tender 20 

The House of Mariana y Gabriel 21 

The Night, Unsheltered 24 

To Be With You 24 

Tomgirl 21 

Touch 20 

True To You 24 

Twenties 13 

Umbilical 21 

Unspoken 21 

Viernes Girl 24 

Walking with Shadows 21 

We Are The Radical Monarchs 12 

Welcome to the USA 21 

Where My Girls 13 

Who Can Predict What Will Move You 12 

Wonder 24 

Yeh Freedom Life 23 

Yunior 24 


PRIDE IS AGELESS 

And so are you. Still blazing new trails, tearing down barriers and empowering 

yourself to live a longer, healthier and more fulfilling life. Count on AARP to be by 

your side every step of the way — opening doors and exploring a new vision for 

aging that’s full of real possibilities. Today is your day to live life as you choose — 

equally, openly and proudly. 

Learn more at aarp.org/pride

Better Drives Us. 

Love Steers Us. 

At Hyundai, we believe in the spirit of innovation to make a positive impact 

on our world. We are committed to designing amazing cars with cutting-edge 

technology, to providing our customers with the best quality service and to 

actively supporting agents of change, education and opportunity. 

Hyundai is honored to be the Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of Outfest Fusion. 

Together, we stand in support of the LGBTQ community to drive inclusivity 

and acceptance. 

FUSION 

Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of Outfest Fusion

2020 OUTFEST FUSION FILM GUIDE

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