Outfest’s Fusion LGBT People of Color FIlm Festival To Open With Mo’Nique First Film Since ‘Precious’

Outfest has announced its lineup for the 2014 Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival. Now in its 11th year, Fusion will be held March 14th – 16th at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Fusion 2014 will open on Friday, March 14 with Patrik-Ian Polk’s latest film “Blackbird,” starring Academy Award–winner Mo’Nique in her first film since “Precious.” The opening night screening is followed by the comedy program Sh*ts & Giggles, presented in partnership with Craig Rose’s Sweet T. Sundays, which will include short films and a live stand-up set by comedian Raneir Pollard.

The Opening Night line-up also includes two L.A. Premieres: the lesbian feature “What It Was” by filmmaker Daniel Armando, and the coming-of-age documentary “Gay Latino LA: Coming of Age,” directed by Jonathan Menendez.

Outfest Fusion 2014 will include additional World Premieres of “Secrets & Toys” directed by Quentin Lee (White Frog) and “You are Dead to Me” starring Harmony Santana (Gun Hill Road).  Korean filmmaker Leesong Hee-il’s “White Night” will have its US Premiere.

“The films this year are about our sense of humor, our courage and vitality, our faith and resilience, whether we’re gay das, women in Morocco or teens in our own backyard. Fusion means great films and diversity at its best,” said Tajmika Paxton, Outfest Fusion Programmer.

Also of note: Actor, comedian and writer Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty, Broadway’s M.Butterfly) will receive the 2014 Fusion Achievement Award, which will be presented to him by Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) prior to the World Premiere screening of Mapa’s one-man concert film “Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy” on Saturday, March 15.

“Alec’s performances and comedy have made us laugh, think, and most importantly, they have inspired us,” said Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest. “He has contributed so much to LGBT arts and media visibility, and we are incredibly excited and happy to honor him with this award.”

Full lineup below. For more info, click: www.Outfest.org/fusion2014.

OUTFEST FUSION 2014 LINE-UP:

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

7:15pm

WHAT IT WAS

Dir: Daniel Armando, 2013, 86 min

Plus short: THE DEVOTION PROJECT: FOREMOST IN MY MIND Dir: Antony Osso, 2013, 10 min 

7:30pm

BLACKBIRD

Dir: Patrik-Ian Polk, 2013, 102 min 

9:30pm

GAY LATINO LA: COMING OF AGE

Dir: Jonathan Menendez, 2012, 78 min

10:00pm

SH*TS & GIGGLES 

CUKI COLORINCHI EVOLUTION  Dir: Eduardo del Olmo, 2013, 4 min

ONE-NIGHT STAND Dir: Ryan Logan, 2013, 6 min

SQUARED Dir: Hieu Tran, 2013, 15 min

WOOF Dir: Rich Yap, 2014, 4 min

FIRST BAPTIST Dir: Nedra McClyde, Jamund Washington, 2013, 20 min

RANEIR POLLARD Live Performance, 15 min

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

2:00pm

FIGHT THE POWER 

AL-BASIR Dir: Omar Hakim, 2013, 11 min. 

CITY OF DAMNED Dir: Nate Skeen, Matt Rogers, Mor Albalak, Shaneika Lai, Stephanie Lee, 2013, 16 min. 

FIGHTING FOR AIR Dir: Fatima Mawas, 2011, 9 min. 

AL NISA: BLACK MUSLIM WOMEN IN ATLANTA’S GAY MECCA Dir: Red Summer, 2013, 10 min. 

GHOST SYNDROME Dir: Rita Piffer, 2013, 8 min. 

EYES THAT DO NOT SEE Dir: Patricia Ovando, 2013, 18min. 

KUHANI Dir: Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, 2013, 7 min.

4:00pm

NO I.D. REQUIRED

PUI Dir: Rujiroj Thanasankittiwat, 2013, 8 min.

LE RETOUR Dir: Yohann Kouam, 2013, 20 min.

BIG TIME Dir: Sonali Gulati, 2013, 10 min.

YOU’RE DEAD TO ME Dir: Wu Tsang, 2013, 13 min.

PUPPY DREAMS Dir: Alex Delyle, 2012, 9 min.

BOUNTY Dir: Finbarr Wilbrink, 2013, 24 min.

6:00pm

WHITE NIGHT

Dir: Leesong Hee-il, 2012, 75 min.

Plus short: WC Dir: Ashton Pina, 2013, 5 min.

6:00pm

PINK IS THE NEW BLACK

HECTOR: LOST SOULS WITH SWITCHBLADES Dir: Jeff Compton, 2013, 15 min.

DYKE CENTRAL: TABOO Dir: Florencia Manovil, 2014, 23 min.

SECRETS & TOYS Dir: Quentin Lee, 2013, 12 min.

HERO MARS Dir: Skyler Cooper, 2013, 24 min.

FOR HER Dir: Samantha Colicchio, 2013, 15 min.

8:30pm

FUSION GALA

ALEC MAPA: BABY DADDY

Dir: Andrea James, 2013, 78 min

SUNDAY, MARCH 16

1:00pm

TRIBUTE TO REV. BOBBIE JEAN BAKER featuring THE BELIEVERS

Dir: Todd Holland, 2007, 86 min

Plus shorts: JO Dir: April Wilson, 2013, 6 min. 

TRANS *MARCH Dir: Simon Schultz Von Dratzig, 2013, 6min

1:30pm

OUTSET SHORTS

GAY OVER Fellows: Jimbo Bowen, Ronja Jansz and Toni Sandoval; OutSet Mentor: Allan Brocka. 

MY MOTHER’S ORPHAN Fellows: Ki Mcleod, Melissa Perez and Frank Sanchez; OutSet Mentor: Carlos Portugal. 

CALAVERA Fellows: Saul Moralez, Rolando Rodriguez and Yadira Tellechea; OutSet Mentor: Jenn Garrison. 

CAFE AU LAIT Fellows: Brandy Silva, Nkechi Ubabuike and Leiana Valenzuela; OutSet Mentor: Chiedu Egbuniwe. 

GIDEON’S CROSS Fellows: Trevor Pop, Ray Martinez, Jenise Whitehead and Damone Williams; OutSet Mentor: Deondray Gossett and Quincy Le Near.

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