The OutFronts OutFest’s 2nd Annual Queer Television Festival Announces Official Lineup

OutFest announces exciting line up for second annual LGBTQIA+ television festival, The Outfronts.

Pride month is right around the corner and OutFest is excited to celebrate with the second annual OutFronts, a queer television festival. The OutFronts will not only debut new episodes of Love, Victor and the world premiere of Peacock’s Queer As Folk but panels featuring creators and actors from fan-favorite LGBTQ series. After the massive success of The 2021 OutFronts OutFest is bringing the festival back in a four-day virtual and in-person hybrid event. The in-person part of the festival will include multiple in-person ticketed events in Los Angeles. Check out more details about this exciting LGBTQIA+ Television Festival below.

DETAILS ABOUT OUTFEST’S 2ND ANNUAL QUEER TELEVISION FESTIVAL THE OUTFRONTS

Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to creating visibility for diverse LGBTQIA+ stories and empowering tomorrow’s artists and storytellers, today announced the lineup for its second annual LGBTQIA+ television festival, The OutFronts with presenting sponsor IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows and celebrities.

The OutFronts, a four-day hybrid festival with free-to-view, internationally accessible virtual panel discussions and ticketed in-person events in Los Angeles, will kick off Pride Month on Friday, June 3rd with the world premiere in-person screening of the first two episodes of Peacock’s QUEER AS FOLK at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, with a post-screening talkback with creators and cast.

The new series from creator/executive producer Stephen Dunn and executive producer/writer Jaclyn Moore, is a vibrant reimagining of the groundbreaking British series created by Russell T. Davies, exploring a diverse group of friends in New Orleans whose lives are transformed in the aftermath of a tragedy. The series stars Devin Way, Fin Argus, Jesse James Keitel, CG, Johnny Sibilly, and Ryan O’Connell, and features an impressive roster of guest stars that includes Kim Cattrall, Juliette Lewis, Nyle DiMarco, Ed Begley Jr., Armand Fields, Eric Graise, Megan Stalter, and more.

The OutFronts festival, which extends through Monday, June 6th, will feature episodic premieres, advanced screenings, and both in-person and virtual discussions with the talent from some of the most exciting LGBTQIA+ programs available on television today, with the goal of connecting the creators and stars of some of these series directly with their loyal, enthusiastic, and often under-served LGBTQIA+ fanbase.

The festival’s in-person lineup to be held at Neuehouse will give an advanced look at the third and final season premiere of Hulu and Disney+’s “Love, Victor”, followed by a discussion with the cast and creators, including showrunner Brian Tanen and stars Michael Cimino, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, George Sear, Isabella Ferreira, and Ava Capri moderated by Tommy Dorfman.

Another in-person event features a focus on Queer Firefighters, gathering actors who play the role on TV (including 9-1-1 LONE STAR’S Brian Michael Smith and Ronen Rubinstein and STATION 19’s Tracie Thoms) alongside real-life queer firefighters of Los Angeles. The OutFronts will also host icons from HBO Max’s LEGENDARY for a talk-show style look back at some of the most earth-shattering moments from the show’s history, and a candid talk about all the unfolding drama of the current season.

Virtual panels include a talk on SyFy and USA Network’s CHUCKY moderated by Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller, with CHILD’S PLAY franchise creator Don Mancini and cast members Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Fiona Dourif, Zackary Arthur, and Bjorgvin Anarson; a one-on-one career-spanning conversation with comedy legend Paula Pell upon the release of GIRLS5EVA season two on Peacock; a discussion with the cast and creators of Freeform’s MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM in advance of the series’ final season

A talk with GENTLEMAN JACK creator Sally Wainwright and actor Lydia Leonard; a focused conversation with the queer talent and characters from Showtime’s smash-hit YELLOWJACKETS; as well as panels featuring talent from HBOMax’s SORT OF and THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS, VH1’s RuPaul’s DRAG RACE, Prime Video’s HARLEM and THE WILDS, The CW’s TOM SWIFT and THE 4400, and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL – THE SERIES from Disney Plus and Disney Branded Television.

The virtual panels will also explore themes like social media influencers who have used their clout to cross over into the acting world – including Gigi Gorgeous, Kalen Allen, and Boman Martinez-Reid, a look at “TV’s Queer Pioneers”, with actors who were among the first to regularly appear as three-dimensional queer characters on television, including Wilson Cruz, Amber Benson, and Jane Sibbett; and a spotlight on actors who have created some of the most impactful queer characters of recent years, including Harvey Guillen (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS), Javicia Leslie (BATWOMAN), Brandon Scott Jones (GHOSTS), and Vico Ortiz (OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH).

“After a record-breaking inaugural year in which we saw nearly 70,000 participants and fans attend our digital event from as far as London, Brazil and Des Moines, Iowa – we are excited to offer opportunities to come together in person and still provide the same high-level digital experience as last year,” said Outfest Executive Director, Damien S. Navarro.

The OutFronts festival aims to highlight the diverse representation of LGBTQIA+ characters on screen, spanning across several genres and styles as queer and trans representation continues to increase across television and cinema. The community, and these show fandoms, will have the opportunity to hear directly from the creators of this programming and have an inside look at the process of bringing their favorite characters and stories to life.

“It’s inspiring to know that one festival couldn’t possibly cover all the wonderful LGBTQIA+ stories being told on television today,” said Outfest’s Director of Festival Programming, Mike Dougherty. “The OutFronts by no means represents an exhaustive account of all that is queer in TV, but they do gather a multitude of brilliantly talented queer artists and allies whose diversity of perspective and experience are on full display in these funny, entertaining, and emotional conversations. I can’t wait to share them with the world.”

All panel discussions will be free of charge to view online and via Outfest’s OutMuseum platform. The OutFronts are presented by IMDb and media sponsors are ABC7 Los Angeles, Clear Channel Outdoor, Edge Media, KCET/PBS SoCal, Pride Media, Queerty, Rainbow Media, The Blade, Autostraddle, and Variety.

The OutFronts will take place June 3 – Jun 6. Click here for more details about The OutFronts including the festival’s schedule. Are you excited for The OutFronts? Which shows are you most excited to see? Which panels are you most looking forward to? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our so c ial media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more.