In its 22nd year, the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival is going virtual—but not before going a little old school. The festival (Aug. 20-30) kicks off with a Drive-OUT preview of Stage Mother, at the Drive-In Theater at Dezerland Park in North Miami (14401 NE 19th Ave.).
The film (pictured above)—starring Jacki Weaver, Adrian Grenier and Lucy Liu—won the Best of the Fest Audience Vote at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It tells the story of conservative Texas church-choir director Maybelline as she attempts to save her deceased son’s San Francisco drag club from bankruptcy.
“We’re proud to showcase Stage Mother, a dazzling and heart-warming film that shatters expectations, as the kick-off to our 22nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival,” said Victor Gimenez, executive director of OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, which is presented by Gilead Sciences and Miami-Dade County. “We invite film enthusiasts to join us in their cars as we comply with social distancing guidelines for community safety to enjoy this larger-than-life celebration of love and belonging on the big screen.”
Other films in the virtual festival include The Goddess of Fortune (La Dea Fortuna) (Italy); a Ladies Shorts Package Night; a South Florida Speaks – Shorts Program and more. There will also be two free community showings: Letters to Eloisa (USA) on Aug. 22 at 3 p.m. and TRANSformations – a Trans Shorts Package on Aug.29 at 3 p.m. The festival will also host additional livestreamed special events with cocktail happy hours, talent and more Q & A sessions.
The festival will also feature livestreamed special events with cocktail happy hours, talent and Q&A sessions.
Tickets to the showing of Stage Mother (Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.) are $40 per car. Click here for tickets. Additional streaming films are $12 each; value packages ($60 to $350) are available here. A full list of films and descriptions can be found here.
