TV & Film | Entertainment News
We’re thrilled to announce that Outfest, a leading nonprofit at the forefront of positive social change for the LGBTQIA+ community, is back again in 2023 featuring the Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Film Festival.
Elegance Bratton, a filmmaker, writer, and photographer, and one of the most promising voices in cinema today, is being honored with the Fusion Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the cinematic arts and his incredible efforts to elevate the queer community through his work.
Past recipients of the Award include Stephanie Beatriz, Michaela Coel, Nisha Ganatra, Angela Robinson, Rose Troche, Wilson Cruz, Alec Mapa, Patrik-Ian Polk, Cheryl Dunye, Brickson Diamond, and Rikki Beadle-Blair.
Bratton has been a vocal supporter of trans and queer people of color and his work is a testament to his vision to uplift marginalized voices by speaking out against issues facing the queer and trans communities of color including homelessness, police brutality, and rampant discrimination. Bratton, who served in the Marines before falling in love with film in New York in the 2010s, is already a massive talent and someone we hope we will see a lot more of.
He’s being recognized for his work including his most recent award-winning feature film, "The Inspection", produced by A24 starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. The celebration will take place in person at the festival’s gala event on March 24th in Los Angeles and is sure to be an unforgettable night of celebration and community love.
Bratton took to his Instagram to share his excitement for the award, "Thank you @outfest #fusion for honoring me with the LGBT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. Outfest fusion was the first festival I played in Los Angeles in 2016. I had a chance to watch @tinamabry win this award during the gala screening event. It’s wild that now it’s my turn to be awarded. Thank you to my incredible team @wme @schoolboyrowe @cameronmwashington @teamid most importantly got to thank my love @algernal . Love you more than anything thank you for loving me through all the ups and downs. Only up from here!!!"
For Gayes planning to attend the gala event, you can expect to see film screenings, performances, and speeches in honor of Bratton and his awesome artistry. For those who would like to attend the entire festival, pack your bags and get ready! The festival starts on March 24th, runs for 10 days and is available to attend both in-person and online.
This year also marks the festival's 20th year and will include not only screenings but workshops as it kicks off its 20th anniversary.
To learn more about the life-changing work Outfest is doing for the LGBTQIA+ community, go to: https://www.outfest.org/about/.
For Gayes out there who are creators, filmmakers, and artists, Outfest offers career support, too. Their mission is to "create visibility to diverse LGBTQIA+ stories and empowers storytellers, building empathy to drive meaningful social change" and they are making it happen by supporting and honoring the achievements of important artists like Elegance Bratton. Thank you, Outfest!