OUT HERE NOW: The Kansas City LGBT Film Festival is one of the Midwest's most visible and highly-regarded LGBT film festivals and the city's oldest and best-attended community film program. Our festival spans eight days and, in 2018, we screened 61 films from around the world with record attendance

We are especially proud of our long standing commitment to showcasing timely, independent films by, for about the LGBT community as well as shining a light on the works of emerging filmmakers from around the world with our appreciative audiences here in the Heartland of America.

We also have a special outreach to showcase the works of LGBT filmmakers who are natives and/or current residents of Missouri & Kansas.

To learn more about us, we encourage you to look over our 2018 line-up at our website.

In addition to the films chosen by the jury as our Opening Night, Closing Night and Centerpiece Selections, the festival bestows these special honors with honorariums to filmmakers.

JURY AWARDS
• Celebration of Courage Award - Narrative Feature
• Celebration of Courage Award - Documentary
• Celebration of Courage Award - Short Film

AUDIENCE AWARDS
• Best Narrative Feature
• Best Documentary
• Best Dramatic Short
• Best Comedy Short
• Best Foreign-Language Short
• Best Youth-Themed Short
• Best Short Documentary
• Best Short Film (under 10 minutes)

There are additional jury and audience awards for outstanding performances and outstanding ensemble

We encourage you to contact us IN ADVANCE about your submission questions.

Digital online screener submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway and preferably with a Vimeo link.

We welcome films with or without distribution to submit, but to be eligible for the festival, a film must NOT have had: a theatrical run in the greater Kansas City area nor be available on-line or on VOD/SVOD/DVD, prior to the festival. While there is no premiere requirement, submitted films should have been completed on or after June 1, 2018.

Please do not submit any films without LGBT content. All submissions are final. No refunds are provided.

If your SHORT FILM (under 55 minutes) submission is selected for screening by OUT HERE NOW, an Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), H264 digital file, or .mov digital file will be REQUIRED for exhibition purposes. You will be sent information as to how to make your film available to OUT HERE NOW for download.

If your NARRATIVE FEATURE OR DOCUMENTARY FILM (over 55 minutes) submission is selected for screening by OUT HERE NOW, a Region 0 or Region 1 Bluray or DVD. with at least one “backup” disk is PREFERRED for exhibition purposes. These formats must be received no later than 2 weeks before screening date. Instructions will accompany official notification. OUT HERE NOW may, at our discretion, prefer to have an Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) H264 digital file or .mov digital for exhibition purposes. If this is the case, you will be sent information as to how to make your film available to OUT HERE NOW for download.

SCHEDULING: Films are scheduled at the discretion of OUT HERE NOW. OUT HERE NOW retains the right to make changes to the published schedule at any time and for any reason. Films may be screened more than once. Every effort will be made to contact the filmmaker before a screening that occurs outside of the OUT HERE NOW festival dates.

ARTIST TRANSPORTATION: OUT HERE NOW does NOT pay for artist transportation such as travel per diems, airfare, train, hotel, etc. If your film is accepted, all transportation and lodging is 100% the responsibility of the artist, including all travel arrangements.

SHIPPING: If bluray or DVD disks are requested by OUT HERE NOW for exhibition purposes, the disks must be sent to the festival prepaid. The festival will pay for return or forward shipping. The festival cannot accept nor assume responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. In case of loss or damage during the Festival, the responsibility of the Festival is limited to the costs for repair or replacement of the print.

RELEASE: OUT HERE NOW is hereby granted the right to use footage, stills, and/or titles and information from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes including, but not limited to, cable, TV, Internet, radio and print sources. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The individual or corporation submitting the film shall indemnify and hold harmless OUT HERE NOW from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jess O'Brien

    It was amazing to be selected to screen for this brilliant festival. Thank you so much to the team who kept us informed about the festival and everything that was going on with our film. Highly recommend filmmakers to submit!!

    July 2019
  • Solaris Pictures

    It was wonderful to participate in this amazing festival's 2018 edition with our film EVENING SHADOWS. The cherry on the cake was winning the ‘Celebration of Courage’ award at the festival!
    Thanks to the organizers for their excellent communication & hospitality.
    Check out all our 17 awards & 67 film festival screenings at https://bit.ly/32myl1K

    July 2019
  • Charlie Droves

    Amazing, amazing festival. Thank you for taking LGBT+ films and filmmakers to the public and making them known!

    July 2019
  • Shane Anderson

    Wasn't able to attend personally, but communication from the festival was great throuhgout.

    July 2019
  • Tom Goss

    Great people, great festival, always a wonderful experience!!!

    July 2019