OUTstream Film Fest, which has labelled itself ‘the queerest fest on the net‘, is launching its inaugural festival in 2020 to kick-off Pride Month amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The festival is a seven day virtual film festival featuring queer film, episodic, and short films from all over the world. Throughout the week, audiences will have the opportunity to view programs from any device as well as participate in interactive online Q&A’s and discussions about the state of queer art, film, and media.

Founded by Ben McCarthy a former Executive Director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema and Megan GarBayo a former Marketing Associate for the Seattle International Film Festival, the Festival that runs from June 1 – June 7 is planning a eclectic schedule of some great queer films.

Queerguru has studied the Program in some detail and these are OUR TOP PICKS OF FILMS NOT TO MISS.

SONG LANG LEON LE’S heart-string-pulling story of a love that goes unconsummated is probably the the first LGBTQ movie from Vietnam that we have ever seen. This debut feature film is an unexpected and very compelling love story between these previously rather confused young men who have found their potential soul mates in the most unlikely of circumstances, It is also a love song to a Saigon long changed and the wonderful tradition of Cải Lương Opera which Le, a resident of California since he was a teenager, treats with the utmost respect and passion. (See also http://c3f.ab6.myftpupload.com/filmmaker-leon-le-talks-about-song-lang-his-queer-vietnamese-love-story/ )

FABULOUS : This documentary by director AUDREY JEAN-BAPTISTE is the heartwarming story of a queer French Guiana kid known as Xavier who left his home country as it was impossible to be his true self. He put several thousands miles between his biological family and him and landed in New York, and very quickly found a new queer adopted family in the city’s underground ballroom scene. Fast forward some 13 years and now transitioned into LASSEINDRA NINJA , who is now recognised as a star exponent of the art of vogueing, and has established her own HOUSE OF NINJA in Paris with MADAME STEPHIE MIZRAHI.

This then is the story of Lasseindra’s going home to Guinea specifically to help young queer and straight teenagers by tutoring them in the art of voguing. It’s a tale of love and optimism that is spread not by some well-meaning stranger, but by one of their own. Lasseindra’s own humility is another reason that this journey of hers makes for such compelling viewing.

(You can read Queerguru’s full review HERE)

NEVRLAND is the extraordinary debut feature film from Austrian writer/director GREGOR SCHMIDINGER who calls it a post-gay coming of age story. When Jakob embarks on his voyage of discovery it is an opportunity to show the boy’s vivid imagination as one very extended hallucinatory trip that we guess would seem even remarkable if you actually took a hit before watching it.

It’s an intense and multi-layed look at how one youth who feels abandoned and almost dead inside as he deals with his sexuality and trying to feel alive too. Schmidinger’s movie may not resound with everyone, especially those who have long forgotten their difficulties of their own passages into manhood, but it will definitely strike a loud chord with all the many Jakob’s in the world

(PS You can read Queerguru’s Full Review HERE)

BENJAMIN the award-winning gay Brit comedian/TV host/writer SIMON AMSTELL’S sophomore film is a totally charming rom-com that is based on him, and his life. It’s the story of Benjamin (COLIN MORGAN) an insecure nerdy up-and-coming filmmaker who has a tendency to totally overthink everything.

When he awkwardly meets Noah (PHÉNIX BROSSARD) a young and talented musician from Paris who plays in a band and is studying at Guildhall, he has no idea on how to even date. Even when he gets Noah back to his apartment and the young Frenchman is obviously waiting to be kissed, a flustered Benjamin instead insists on showing a clip of his new film.

It’s a testament to Amstell’s excellent writing that the fact that these complete opposites authentically gel as a couple in this very entertaining story. Although Benjamin is painfully self-conscious and sometimes clueless, Noah at least is a sweet self-possessed man who has enough confidence for the two of them. (PS You can read Queerguru’s full review HERE)

GAY CHORUS : DEEP SOUTH is the Closing Night Gala Film. After a new wave of homophobia bordering on violence which the present Administration seem content to sanction, the SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS became determined to counter-balance this with a message of hope and love. They planned a Tour in five of the deepest South Bible Belt states which have the harshest laws against homosexuals and are home to the most bigotry as well. Music has always been a great means for helping change minds and bringing a sense of calm to even conservative Christians whose historically-held views on our community have been agitated by the present unhealthy political climate.

Whether the Tour achieved all that it wanted is open to discussion. What they were extremely successful in was demonstrating that when it comes to interacting with deeply conservative people, that you have far more possibilities in changing hearts and minds by sheer visibility. The complete lack of even a hint of angry confrontation clearly showed that was a positive way open to our community in the ongoing struggle for acceptance.

Then there is the music. It is impossible not to be swept up in the passion and artistry which will move everybody who sees the heart-string pulling documentary. PS You can read Queerguru;s full review of the movie HERE)