Winston-Salem’s popular LGBTQ+ screening series, “OUT at the Movies,” will kick off its ninth annual film festival September 29-October 2, featuring a diverse selection of 31 films — plus parties and special events — during the four days an event. Individual tickets are $10, flex passes (five in-person screenings) are $40, and festival passes (one entry to any in-person or online screening) are $80. For advance tickets or more information, visit https://outatthemovies.org/.
“We are thrilled and look forward to four days of screenings, many with Q&As, parties and a concert,” said Rex Welton, co-founder and director of the “OUT” festival and screening series. “The technology that allows people to watch movies from home is wonderful, but for me, a real festival brings together moviegoers and filmmakers to watch movies, participate in Q&As and talk about their experiences at our receptions. nocturnal.”
The preview of the selected festival shorts will be screened September 29 at 8 p.m. at the a/perture Cinema (311 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem) and the rest of the selections will be screened on the school’s main campus. University of North Carolina. of the Arts (UNCSA) School of Filmmaking (1533 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem).
“A/perture has truly enjoyed working closely with Chad E. Harris over the past year,” said Lawren Desai, executive director and curator of a/perture cinema. “Chad is responsible for programming the short film program of the ‘OATM’ festival, which is also the only program we will screen on the opening night. From June to September this year, Chad also lined up four shorts to precede our lineup as part of our “shortsb4films” program (https://aperturecinema.com/shortsb4films/) – and we thought that would be a great way to highlight the festival by sharing some of their selected or submitted short films.
Encompassing the festival, “we have 31 films – features and shorts – and all but one will be available online (September 30 to October 8), as well as in-person screening of each film at the ACE Theater Complex in the UNCSA,” Welton said. “I’m very happy with this year’s line-up. Between submissions on “FilmFreeway” and those from distributors, we had over 150 films under review. Narrowing that down to 31 was hard work! »
Filmmaker James Andrew Walsh is a veteran of ‘OUT,’ his 2021 feature debut The extinction of fireflies having screened at last year’s festival. When it came time for an encore, Walsh was only too happy to oblige with his latest film, Jimmy and Carolynea comedy/drama starring Gregory Harrison and Mary Beth Peil, which will be opening night screening September 30 at 7 p.m. at the UNCSA Main Theater.
“We are thrilled to be the opening night of this year’s festival,” said Walsh. “It’s a dream come true. Rex and his team organize a wonderful event. But beyond their exquisite hospitality, it is a festival that above all honors and respects filmmakers. I wish they were all like this: the perfect balance between the glamor and excitement of Hollywood movies and real movie magic! I love this festival so much that I incorporated last year’s swag into the film – sejie if you can spot it!
Filmmaker Todd Flaherty is a newcomer to the festival. He wrote, produced, edited, directed and starred in Chrissy Judy, a comedy/drama/character study in which he plays a drag queen who faces new career and life challenges when her running partner (Wyatt Fenner) leaves for supposedly greener pastures. The film will screen Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at UNCSA’s Main Theater.
“I’m a Winston-Salem and ‘OUT’ newbie, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to visit and share our film with a new audience,” Flaherty said. “Rex and the ‘OUT’ team have been an absolute dream! We love the movies they are programming this season and they made us feel like absolute stars!
“A lot of people ask, and I hesitate to say, the film is autobiographical,” he said. “But, as the old adage goes, ‘write what you know’… and I know these beautifully loving, fragile queer relationships very intimately. I was a Chrissy and a Judy in my formative relationships and was grateful to have the space to write about them. Working on a micro-budget is incredibly difficult and required me to wear more hats than I originally anticipated – producing and editing the film as well as cutting costs. Of course, when I watch the movie, I wish I had a bigger budget… but I really like what we created with a three-person crew on such a small budget. It’s a beautiful film made with tape and love, and in a way, it feels like a million bucks. I couldn’t be happier.
Flaherty is currently working on his next feature, which he hopes to begin production next year. Additionally, “I was recently cast in a new movie that begins filming next month,” he said. “I’m very excited and honored to play a part in it – and not have to worry about directing, producing or editing!”
Organizing an annual four-day film festival is hard work, but “it’s really fun and rewarding,” Welton said. “OUT at the Movies” had an international reputation not only for its great films and events, but also for its stellar hospitality. I often tell our volunteers that we may not be one of the biggest, oldest and/or most critically acclaimed festivals, but we can do the best job when it comes to take care of our filmmakers, actors, documentary subjects and audience members – and we do!
“I’m also very proud of the fact that filmmakers who often live in the same big city – mostly New York or Los Angeles – met in Winston-Salem at one of our festivals and ended up working together on so many things. future movies. . I have to believe that these collaborations wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for “OUT at the Movies”!”
Sponsorship tiers for the festival start at $100, and all tiers include tickets and other perks. Donors at the $250 level and above will receive an invitation for two to the festival’s VIP party featuring celebrities, delicious food and an open bar. In addition, the festival is always looking for volunteers.
