OUTFEST Announces 2012 Fusion Lineup

Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media, has announced its lineup for Fusion: the Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival. Now in its ninth year, Fusion is the only multicultural LGBT film festival of its kind. The festival will include short films, feature films, panels, workshops, and parties that highlight and celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community. The festival will be held March 22nd – 24th at the Egyptian Theater and Renberg Theatre in Hollywood, and is presented by NBCUniversal.

Writer/director Patrik-Ian Polk (PUNKS, NOAH’S ARC) will receive the 2012 Fusion Achievement Award. “Patrik-Ian Polk is an incredible visionary, breaking new ground in his depictions of LGBT characters whose stories are unique, yet universal,” says Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest.

"I am very excited and honored to be receiving this award from Outfest, and to premiere my new film at Fusion," says Polk. "Outfest has been a loving supporter of my work since my first film PUNKS in 2000. I've shown all my films there, and the amazing work they've done with Fusion specifically highlighting the work of LGBT filmmakers of color is a shining example of their commitment to promoting diversity within the genre of gay film."

The award will be presented to Polk by Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS), prior to the World Premiere screening of Polk’s third feature, THE SKINNY.

Fusion 2012 will also unveil the first work of OutSet: The Young Filmmakers Project from LifeWorks and Outfest, created to empower and educate LGBT youth to tell their stories through film.

The festival will kick off with an extraordinary live performance piece; JOTALOGUES: TALKING TABOO IN THE BEAST OF TIMES, written and performed by multi-disciplinary Xicana artist Adelina Anthony with D’Lo.

The additional line-up of this year’s Fusion includes the World Premiere of STUD LIFE by London-based and Outfest award-winning filmmaker, Campbell X, a

CAR WASH Sing-and-Dance-Along, two programs showcasing some of the newest and best short films by and about people of color, as well as a Legacy Project screening of Nisha Ganatra’s beloved film from 1999, CHUTNEY POPCORN.

Fusion Access LA returns in partnership with NBCUniversal for a third year. The partnership brings aspiring filmmakers in contact with industry leaders at NBCUniversal to inspire, educate, and mentor. There will be a number of panels throughout the day including the ever-popular writing panel which includes writers from top NBCUniversal shows along with a meet and greet lunch where studio executives talk about trends and what ideas are catching their attention.