OUTstream Film Fest, the queerest fest on the net, is launching its inaugural festival in 2020 to kick-off Pride Month amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The festival is be a seven day virtual film festival featuring queer film, episodic, and short films from all over the world. Throughout the seven days, audiences will have the opportunity to view programs from any device as well as participate in interactive online Q&A's and discussions about the state of queer art, film, and media.

OUTSTREAM FILMMAKER CHALLENGE: Queering the Quarantine
Is your boom pole gathering dust? Dreaming of the day you’ll hold a camera again? Why wait when you can CREATE?

Make a 5-minute or less film while observing social distancing orders that tells the story of your queer quarantine! Make a musical, a western, a documentary; whatever best expresses your queerness and your experience during COVID-19. Film on your phone, your camera, animate on paper – anyway you want to tell your story; Surprise us with your stay-at-home cinematic creativity!

Submit your film by May 11th to be considered! All films will be posted online at our discretion, and top films will be screened together as a free shorts program before OUTstream Film Festival (June 1-7, 2020). Join the watch party from anywhere around the world and see if your film takes the top prize! See Rules & Terms for more information.

Awards & Prizes

OUTstream Film Fest will present Audience Awards for Narratives, Documentaries, and Short Films.

Rules & Terms

OUTstream Film Fest accepts submissions for our shorts and episodic programs only.

FILM ELIGIBILITY
OUTstream will only consider films that are focused on LGBTQ2+ people, their families, and communities. Any film that is not considered queer will be immediately disqualified. Only films created in 2018, 2019, and 2020 will be considered. If your film has be screened online through another festival, it is still eligible and you're encouraged to submit.

ENTRY FORM
Please completely fill out the FilmFreeway Entry Form. A separate Entry Form is required for each film being submitted. We only accept online submissions through FilmFreeway.

PREVIEW FORMAT
Preview submissions must be submitted via secure online screener (e.g. vimeo.com with password), or through a secure online link via FilmFreeway. Online submissions are handled through FilmFreeway via a secure online link of your film (uploaded films must be in their entirety; trailers will not be considered).

ONLINE SCREENING
OUTstream will exhibit all films via an online platform for on-demand and livestream consumption. All non-English language entries must have English subtitles.

PRINT TRAFFIC
OUTstream is an online film festival and as such, all films should be delivered via digital download in order for us to upload to the online platform.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY
All films selected are eligible for the Audience Awards.

PROGRAM SELECTION
All entries will be reviewed by the Screening Committee and Programmers. Once a film is submitted for entry, it may not be withdrawn.

RENTAL/SCREENING FEES
OUTstream & McArts Consulting do not pay rental fees; instead we choose to invest our resources in producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By submitting your film, you give OUTstream Film Fest and McArts Consulting permission to use up to 3 minutes of footage or photographic stills from the work for broadcast, web publication or other promotional purposes. OUTstream must be notified in writing of any press or photo restrictions.

OUTstream must be notified in writing of any press restrictions, including hold reviews.

If accepted to the Festival, you agree allow your film to be screened via an online platform and will not hold OUTstream or McArts Consulting responsible for any piracy or damages.

FILMMAKER CHALLENGE RULES & TERMS
1. Please submit only original content produced during this quarantine. If you have a short film you made before, consider submitting it to OUTstream Film Festival.

2. Must observe social distancing during all stages of production of your film. We want everyone to stay healthy.

3. Film must be in English or with English subtitles to be considered. Silent films welcome.

4. Runtime must be no more than 5 minutes total, including credits.

5. Must have queer theme and ideally, a beginning, middle, and end.

6. All above standard submission rules and terms apply.

After that, anything goes!

OUTstream Film Fest is produced by McArts Consulting, LLC.

5 Reviews
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  • Jessica Guerra

    This was such a lovely festival to be a part of. Faridah was awesome, I had a great time during the Q & A and I absolutely loved the other films. Thanks so much for including me.

    June 2020
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  • Jeffrey Schick

    Thanks for the great organization. Festival ran so smoothly. Great films; the shorts tracks were great! Thanks for the inclusion.

    June 2020
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  • Riley Church

    The online festival was awesome! I loved seeing all the beautiful LGBT+ films I would’ve never seen otherwise. Very thankful for this opportunity!!!

    June 2020
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  • Shimba Dee

    I could recognize what I should do to make good film.
    Connect with filmmakers worldwide encouraged me much.
    thanks.

    June 2020
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  • Alexandre Dubé

    Amazing online festival! It was a joy to be part of it! :)

    June 2020
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