Fort Lauderdale's 9th Annual OUTshine Film Festival Celebrates LGBTQ Film

The OUTshine Film Festival is gearing up to celebrate its 9th annual season in Fort Lauderdale October 6th - 15th debuting over 30 new films and honoring up-and-coming actor and LGBTQ activist, Tommy Dorfman.

OUTshine's star-studded opening night event will start with the screening of "Close Knit" - a Japanese film that won the "Teddy Jury Award" and the "Panorama Audience Award" at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year.

The film festival will also be awarding their Lavender Award for excellence in LGBTQ film to up-and-coming actor and activist, Tommy Dorfman. Dorfman, whose role as Ryan Shaver in Netflix's "13 Reasons Why," has been rising to prominence as a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights.

OUTshine's Opening Night kicks off at 8pm at the NSU Art Museum Theatre, followed by a celebrity studded red carpet and gala. For a full list of film screenings and to purchase event tickets, go to www.outshinefilm.com.

About OUTshine Film Festival

The OUTshine LGBT Film Festival is a bi-annual film festival with a mission to inspire, entertain, and educate the public and encourage a sense of community through international and culturally diverse film, video and other media that offer historical and contemporary perspectives on the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.