OUTstream Film Fest Announces QUEERING THE QUARANTINE FILMMAKER CHALLENGE

OUTstream Film Fest (June 1-7) announced the QUEERING THE QUARANTINE FILMMAKER CHALLENGE, which is now open for submissions. Short films made while observing social distancing orders and submitted to OUTstream Film Fest will be screened on the fest’s website and shared on social media, with a “Best of” compilation screened together as part of the kick-off for the inaugural edition of the virtual film festival on May 29.

OUTstream Film Fest Co-Founder and Co-Director Ben McCarthy, said, “We know that there are many filmmakers out there itching to pick up their cameras and dust off their equipment to tell their stories again, just as all of us would love to get back into the swing of things.”

“Until they are able to get back to the set or the studio and have a crew at their disposal, we thought it would it would be fun and maybe even cathartic for people to make a short film expressing what their quarantine experience has been like,” said Co-Founder and Co-Director Megan Garbayo.

Teaming up with OUTstream Programmer and independent film producer Gil Sima to build a festival within the festival, Garbayo sees the filmmaker challenge as a way to bring queer filmmakers together again online instead of in person.

QUEERING THE QUARANTINE FILMMAKER CHALLENGE films can be any genre (drama, comedy, documentary, musical, horror, western, sci-fi, animation, etc.). The object is to best express your queerness and experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Filmmakers can film on their phone, camera, animate on paper – anyway they want to tell their story.

Films can be no longer than 5 minutes in length (including credits).

Additional rules are as follows:

• Only original content produced during the quarantine period will be considered for this challenge. (If you have a short film you made before, please consider submitting it to OUTstream Film Fest.)

• Filmmakers must observe social distancing during all stages of production of the film.

• Film must be in English or with English subtitles to be considered. Silent films also qualify.

• Films must have a queer theme and ideally, a beginning, middle, and end.

• Films must not appear anywhere online prior to May 29, 2020.

Submissions can be made at FilmFreeway.com/outstream.

OUTstream Film Fest will kick off Pride month amid the COVID-19 crisis offering a selection of films celebrating queer cinema and seeking to bring all audiences together online to enjoy the films, as well as be virtually introduced to the filmmakers. Produced by McArts Consulting, the seven-day virtual film festival featuring queer film, episodic, and short films from all over the world will provide audiences an opportunity to view the programs from any device as well as participate in interactive online Q&As and discussions about the state of queer art, film, and media.

For more information, please go to: www.mcartsconsulting.com/outstream.