Mission: Outfest creates visibility to diverse LGBTQIA+ stories and empowers storytellers, building empathy to drive meaningful social change.

OUTFEST®, est. 1982 is one of the only global LGBTQIA+ arts, media and entertainment organizations whose programs empower artists, communities and filmmakers to transform the world through their stories, while also supporting the entire life-cycle of their career.

Founded by volunteers on the campus of UCLA in 1982, Outfest has grown into an internationally venerated organization that works to promote understanding and build community through stories on film. Since the beginning of the struggle for LGBTQ equality, visionary filmmakers have recorded their lives, challenges and triumphs. For 40 years Outfest has nurtured the voices of talented artists, showcased vital stories that reflect and often transform LGBTQ lives, and protected those stories for future generations.