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Call Her Ganda and Transmilitary earn special mentions from Outfest jury  "When the Beat Drops" director Jamal Sims on stage at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre for a screening of his film. Behind him is producer Jordan Finnegan. Los Angeles, Thursday, July 19, 2018. Photo by Matt Carey The exuberant documentary When the Beat Drops, about the underground dance movement known as bucking and the gay African-American men who have popularized it, earned the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize at Outfest, the LA-based LGBT film festival. Noted choreographer Jamal Sims, who has worked with Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Miley Cyrus among others, directed the film that originally premiered at the Miami Film Festival. In a statement Monday Outfest jurors praised the documentary for "its heart, energy, and triumphant spirit as it explores a vibrant community of under-appreciated performers." When the Beat Drops screened Thursday night at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills, and was followed by a boisterous bucking performance by some of the key dancers featured in the film. Watch that here: Outfest's Audience Award for Feature Documentary went to Man Made, directed by T Cooper. The film tells the story of four people taking part in Trans FitCon, a bodybuilding competition uniquely for trans men. "It's definitely going to be a showdown tonight," one of the entrants says in the trailer, referring to the final pose-off. "We got some tight bodies." Man Made also won the Fox Inclusion Feature Film Award. The Outfest jury honored two feature documentaries with special mentions, including PJ Raval's Call Her Ganda, about Jennifer Laude, a trans Filippina woman killed by a U.S. Marine who was in the Philippines to take part in military exercises. Jurors saluted Call Her Ganda "for its sensitive, in-depth exploration of a little-known situation with far-reaching implications." The other Special Mention honor went to Transmilitary, directed by Gabriel Silverman and Fiona Shaw. The film follows four trans members of the U.S. armed services -- Senior Airman Logan Ireland, Corporal Laila Villanueva, Captain Jennifer Peace, and First Lieutenant El Cook -- as they attempt to continue serving their country despite growing hostility to trans service members from the Trump administration. Jurors expressed admiration for "its timely message, creative use of visual storytelling, and wide-ranging scope of stories and characters."  A still photo from "Transmilitary," directed by Gabriel Silverman and Fiona Shaw. Photo courtesy Outfest  Director PJ Raval introduces his documentary "Call Her Ganda" at Outfest. West Hollywood, Calif., July 14, 2018. Photo by Matt Carey Related: |
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Here is the full list of prize winners as announced by Outfest:
OUTFEST LOS ANGELES LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES 2018 AWARD WINNERS
ANNOUNCES 2018 AWARD WINNERS
Los Angeles, July 23, 2018 – Outfest — the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen — has announced the award winners of its 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, presented by HBO.
The nation’s leading LGBTQ festival ran from July 12th to July 22nd. The 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival closed last night with Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Ehle, Sasha Lane, John Gallagher Jr., and Forrest Goodluck.
Outfest Los Angeles 2018 Award Winners
____________________________________________________________________________
Audience Awards
Best Documentary Short Audience Award
Mama Dragons, Directed by Andria May-Corsini & Adam Wolffbrandt
Best Documentary Feature Audience Award
Man Made, Directed by T Cooper
Best Narrative Short Audience Award
Tooth and Nail, Directed by Sara Shaw
Best Narrative Audience Award
Tucked, Directed by Jamie Patterson
Best Episodic Series
Bonding, Created by Righter Doyle
Best Experimental Short Audience Award
These Are My Hands, Directed by Evi Tsiligaridou
Audience Award for Best First U.S. Narrative Feature
Daddy Issues, Directed by Amara Cash
____________________________________________________________________________
Grand Jury Awards
Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize
When the Beat Drops, Directed by Jamal Sims
The Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize goes to When the Beat Drops for its heart, energy, and triumphant spirit as it explores a vibrant community of under-appreciated performers in this directorial debut that exhibits great potential.
Documentary Feature Special Mentions
Call Her Ganda, Directed by PJ Raval
TransMilitary, Directed by Gabriel Silverman & Fiona Dawson
A Special Mention goes to Call Her Ganda for its sensitive, in-depth exploration of a little-known situation with far-reaching implications. Another Special Mention goes to TransMilitary for its timely message, creative use of visual storytelling, and wide-ranging scope of stories and characters.
U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize
We the Animals, Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
The U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize goes to We the Animals for its undeniable beauty, cinematography, performances, and wildly distinctive style. The film’s approach to both the painful beauty and destructive nature of the family dynamic was a riveting experience, equal parts a story of the birth and death of love, well-captured and heart-wrenching.
U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance
Drew Droege in Bright Colors and Bold Patterns
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature goes to Drew Droege in Bright Colors and Bold Patterns for an undeniably bold and funny performance, remarkable for its world building. It’s a universe which keeps the audience riveted; equal parts poignant and comedic, and entirely singular.
U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenwriting
Yen Tan for 1985
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature goes to Yen Tan for 1985. The filmmaker’s realistic, vibrant, yet restrained script is the work of a rigorous and lyrical mind, whose well-crafted words detail a tender account of an important period of time in LGBTQ and American history. Their emphatic vision is an important statement, and one that has the qualities of the best of writers; making a personal story one of universal compassion.
U.S. Narrative Feature Special Mention
Skate Kitchen for Ensemble Performance, Directed by Crystal Moselle
A Special Mention for Ensemble Performance goes to Crystal Moselle’s film Skate Kitchen for its authenticity, emotional connection, and glimpse into the riveting world of skateboarding, the audience witnessing a coming-of-age story of female friendships through this talented acting ensemble.
International Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize
Hard Paint, Directed by Felipe Matzembacher & Marcio Reolon (Brazil)
Tucked, Directed by Jamie Patterson (United Kingdom)
The International Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize goes ex aequo to Hard Paint and Tucked, two completely different stories that capture hearts through outstanding performances and exquisite cinematography. The directors offer us stories that depict the beauty of accepting yourself; a troubled young man and an old drag queen become an ode to embracing differentness and individuality.
International Narrative Feature Special Mention
Montana, Directed by Limor Shmila (Israel)
A Special Mention goes to Montana, which showcases a new, refreshing voice and powerful performances in a sensitive portrayal of a community that speaks volumes about the range of the human spirit.
International Narrative Short Grand Jury Prize
The Things You Think I’m Thinking, Directed by Sherren Lee (Canada)
The Grand Prize for Best International Narrative Short Film goes to The Things You Think I’m Thinking. At a time in our history where the divides between us are growing larger, this film offers a brave depiction of an intimate moment that reminds us oftentimes the greatest barriers are the ones we create for ourselves. With great vulnerability, this film unflinchingly examines how our own insecurities affect our happiness and our ability to connect with others.
International Narrative Short Special Mention
Dressed for Pleasure (Je fais où tu me dis), Directed by Marie de Maricourt
A Special Mention goes to Dressed for Pleasure for balancing the playfulness of sexuality and the vital importance of a supportive community in a whimsical story. In a time when embracing your identity is more important than ever, this film celebrates the discovery of desire, no matter where it leads or where your passions lie.
Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize
Between Us Two, Directed by Tan Wei Keong
The Grand Prize for Best Documentary Short Film Award goes to Between Us Two for illuminating the emotional interior of the filmmaker — who reflects upon the loss of his mother with a poignant mix of animation and archival footage, and transports us through powerfully concise writing.
Documentary Short Special Mention
These Are My Hands, Directed by Evi Tsiligaridou
A Special Mention goes to These Are My Hands, a film that is truly unique in its structure, subject, and cinematography. A beautiful portrait of how our bodies come to carry our stories — marked by our pain, our love, and resilience. The filmmaker’s voice and courage to use their own body to illustrate what often goes unseen is moving.
Narrative Short Grand Jury Prize
Fran This Summer, Directed by Mary Evangelista
The Grand Jury Prize for Best U.S. Narrative Short goes to Fran This Summer for effortlessly showing the beauty of the small things, the subtlety of trans experience, and the sacred nature of everyday moments. In a world that demands that trans storytelling be big in order to matter, this short is a welcome and soaring departure.
Narrative Short Special Mentions
Tooth and Nail, Directed by Sara Shaw
Happy Birthday, Marsha!, Directed by Reina Gossett & Sasha Wortzel
The first Special Mention goes to Tooth and Nail for communicating, in equal parts, the ache of loss and the comedy of asking for your brother's sperm as a queer woman. There's something about cancer, weed, and grandma getting stoned that truly brings a family together and elucidates the reality of queer experience in America. The second Special Mention goes to Happy Birthday, Marsha! for proving through sheer creative brilliance that trans stories are best told by trans people. Almost 50 years ago, trans women of color, drag queens, and gender nonconforming people kicked off the riots at The Stonewall Inn. But for decades, that wasn't how the story was told. Too often, gay white men have co-opted movements or been given sole ownership of ideas that were created by trans people of color. From Netflix documentaries to history books, credit has not always been given where credit is due. Not any more.
____________________________________________________________________________
Special Programming Awards
Emerging Talent
The 2018 Programming Award for Emerging Talent goes to Caroline Berler for Dykes, Camera, Action, an impressive debut feature profiling the female directors who make up the queer canon — most of whom are Outfest alumni.
Freedom
The 2018 Programming Award for Freedom goes to Leilah Weinraub for Shakedown, an intimate and fearless exploration into a rarely depicted culture devoted to black female pleasure. The director’s deep commitment over time brings light to this vibrant world and the characters within it.
Artistic Achievement
The 2018 Programming Award for Artistic Achievement goes to Anucha Boonyawatana for Malila: The Farewell Flower, for a stunning piece of cinema that brings to life the vulnerability and emotions that come from an undying love that transcends humanity's fate.
Fox Inclusion Feature Film Award
Man Made, Directed by T Cooper
Fox Inclusion Short Film Award
Rani, Directed by Hammad Rizvi
The nation’s leading LGBTQ festival ran from July 12th to July 22nd. The 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival closed last night with Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Ehle, Sasha Lane, John Gallagher Jr., and Forrest Goodluck.
Outfest Los Angeles 2018 Award Winners
____________________________________________________________________________
Audience Awards
Best Documentary Short Audience Award
Mama Dragons, Directed by Andria May-Corsini & Adam Wolffbrandt
Best Documentary Feature Audience Award
Man Made, Directed by T Cooper
Best Narrative Short Audience Award
Tooth and Nail, Directed by Sara Shaw
Best Narrative Audience Award
Tucked, Directed by Jamie Patterson
Best Episodic Series
Bonding, Created by Righter Doyle
Best Experimental Short Audience Award
These Are My Hands, Directed by Evi Tsiligaridou
Audience Award for Best First U.S. Narrative Feature
Daddy Issues, Directed by Amara Cash
____________________________________________________________________________
Grand Jury Awards
Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize
When the Beat Drops, Directed by Jamal Sims
The Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize goes to When the Beat Drops for its heart, energy, and triumphant spirit as it explores a vibrant community of under-appreciated performers in this directorial debut that exhibits great potential.
Documentary Feature Special Mentions
Call Her Ganda, Directed by PJ Raval
TransMilitary, Directed by Gabriel Silverman & Fiona Dawson
A Special Mention goes to Call Her Ganda for its sensitive, in-depth exploration of a little-known situation with far-reaching implications. Another Special Mention goes to TransMilitary for its timely message, creative use of visual storytelling, and wide-ranging scope of stories and characters.
U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize
We the Animals, Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
The U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize goes to We the Animals for its undeniable beauty, cinematography, performances, and wildly distinctive style. The film’s approach to both the painful beauty and destructive nature of the family dynamic was a riveting experience, equal parts a story of the birth and death of love, well-captured and heart-wrenching.
U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance
Drew Droege in Bright Colors and Bold Patterns
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature goes to Drew Droege in Bright Colors and Bold Patterns for an undeniably bold and funny performance, remarkable for its world building. It’s a universe which keeps the audience riveted; equal parts poignant and comedic, and entirely singular.
U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenwriting
Yen Tan for 1985
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature goes to Yen Tan for 1985. The filmmaker’s realistic, vibrant, yet restrained script is the work of a rigorous and lyrical mind, whose well-crafted words detail a tender account of an important period of time in LGBTQ and American history. Their emphatic vision is an important statement, and one that has the qualities of the best of writers; making a personal story one of universal compassion.
U.S. Narrative Feature Special Mention
Skate Kitchen for Ensemble Performance, Directed by Crystal Moselle
A Special Mention for Ensemble Performance goes to Crystal Moselle’s film Skate Kitchen for its authenticity, emotional connection, and glimpse into the riveting world of skateboarding, the audience witnessing a coming-of-age story of female friendships through this talented acting ensemble.
International Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize
Hard Paint, Directed by Felipe Matzembacher & Marcio Reolon (Brazil)
Tucked, Directed by Jamie Patterson (United Kingdom)
The International Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize goes ex aequo to Hard Paint and Tucked, two completely different stories that capture hearts through outstanding performances and exquisite cinematography. The directors offer us stories that depict the beauty of accepting yourself; a troubled young man and an old drag queen become an ode to embracing differentness and individuality.
International Narrative Feature Special Mention
Montana, Directed by Limor Shmila (Israel)
A Special Mention goes to Montana, which showcases a new, refreshing voice and powerful performances in a sensitive portrayal of a community that speaks volumes about the range of the human spirit.
International Narrative Short Grand Jury Prize
The Things You Think I’m Thinking, Directed by Sherren Lee (Canada)
The Grand Prize for Best International Narrative Short Film goes to The Things You Think I’m Thinking. At a time in our history where the divides between us are growing larger, this film offers a brave depiction of an intimate moment that reminds us oftentimes the greatest barriers are the ones we create for ourselves. With great vulnerability, this film unflinchingly examines how our own insecurities affect our happiness and our ability to connect with others.
International Narrative Short Special Mention
Dressed for Pleasure (Je fais où tu me dis), Directed by Marie de Maricourt
A Special Mention goes to Dressed for Pleasure for balancing the playfulness of sexuality and the vital importance of a supportive community in a whimsical story. In a time when embracing your identity is more important than ever, this film celebrates the discovery of desire, no matter where it leads or where your passions lie.
Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize
Between Us Two, Directed by Tan Wei Keong
The Grand Prize for Best Documentary Short Film Award goes to Between Us Two for illuminating the emotional interior of the filmmaker — who reflects upon the loss of his mother with a poignant mix of animation and archival footage, and transports us through powerfully concise writing.
Documentary Short Special Mention
These Are My Hands, Directed by Evi Tsiligaridou
A Special Mention goes to These Are My Hands, a film that is truly unique in its structure, subject, and cinematography. A beautiful portrait of how our bodies come to carry our stories — marked by our pain, our love, and resilience. The filmmaker’s voice and courage to use their own body to illustrate what often goes unseen is moving.
Narrative Short Grand Jury Prize
Fran This Summer, Directed by Mary Evangelista
The Grand Jury Prize for Best U.S. Narrative Short goes to Fran This Summer for effortlessly showing the beauty of the small things, the subtlety of trans experience, and the sacred nature of everyday moments. In a world that demands that trans storytelling be big in order to matter, this short is a welcome and soaring departure.
Narrative Short Special Mentions
Tooth and Nail, Directed by Sara Shaw
Happy Birthday, Marsha!, Directed by Reina Gossett & Sasha Wortzel
The first Special Mention goes to Tooth and Nail for communicating, in equal parts, the ache of loss and the comedy of asking for your brother's sperm as a queer woman. There's something about cancer, weed, and grandma getting stoned that truly brings a family together and elucidates the reality of queer experience in America. The second Special Mention goes to Happy Birthday, Marsha! for proving through sheer creative brilliance that trans stories are best told by trans people. Almost 50 years ago, trans women of color, drag queens, and gender nonconforming people kicked off the riots at The Stonewall Inn. But for decades, that wasn't how the story was told. Too often, gay white men have co-opted movements or been given sole ownership of ideas that were created by trans people of color. From Netflix documentaries to history books, credit has not always been given where credit is due. Not any more.
____________________________________________________________________________
Special Programming Awards
Emerging Talent
The 2018 Programming Award for Emerging Talent goes to Caroline Berler for Dykes, Camera, Action, an impressive debut feature profiling the female directors who make up the queer canon — most of whom are Outfest alumni.
Freedom
The 2018 Programming Award for Freedom goes to Leilah Weinraub for Shakedown, an intimate and fearless exploration into a rarely depicted culture devoted to black female pleasure. The director’s deep commitment over time brings light to this vibrant world and the characters within it.
Artistic Achievement
The 2018 Programming Award for Artistic Achievement goes to Anucha Boonyawatana for Malila: The Farewell Flower, for a stunning piece of cinema that brings to life the vulnerability and emotions that come from an undying love that transcends humanity's fate.
Fox Inclusion Feature Film Award
Man Made, Directed by T Cooper
Fox Inclusion Short Film Award
Rani, Directed by Hammad Rizvi
Author
Matthew Carey is a documentary filmmaker and journalist. His work has appeared on Deadline.com, CNN, CNN.com, TheWrap.com, NBCNews.com and in Documentary magazine.
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