Outfest Reboots As OutfestNEXT With Help From HBO Max

After two years of silence, the cultural heartbeat of LGBTQ+ cinema in Los Angeles is pulsing anew. Outfest, one of the world’s leading film festivals dedicated to queer storytelling, has announced its highly anticipated return with OutfestNEXT—a four-day screening event and celebration slated for November 6–9, 2025, presented in partnership with HBO Max. This relaunch signals not only the festival’s resilience but also its evolving mission to amplify LGBTQ+ voices on a local and global scale .

OutfestNEXT will serve as both a welcome back and a bold step forward for the festival, featuring new programming initiatives, curated screenings, and community-based events. The partnership with HBO Max—a long-standing ally of Outfest—underscores the importance of mainstream platforms in championing LGBTQ+ narratives. Christopher Racster, Interim Executive Director of Outfest, encapsulated the urgency and hope behind the relaunch: “Outfest was born of the need for our LGBTQ+ community to have a place to safely gather and support filmmakers telling authentic stories. Outfest is being reborn at a time when telling our stories has never been more important. We are re-emerging to ensure that our community is not being erased by those working to deny us equal and civil rights” .

The OutfestNEXT event will feature four days packed with film screenings, panels with filmmakers, networking opportunities, and celebrations of queer artistry. Programming will highlight diverse stories from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, with an emphasis on uplifting voices from marginalized communities and fostering connection within the industry .

Central to Outfest’s relaunch is organizational renewal. The festival announced the election of a new Board of Directors, bringing vibrant, cross-sectional representation from the arts and entertainment communities. Lucas Bailey, Outfest’s new President of the Board of Directors, emphasized the significance of this moment: “In addition to the rehiring of key staff members, Outfest has also elected a new Board of Directors, filling key board leadership roles with new, vibrant voices representing a cross-section of the arts and entertainment communities. We are humbled to be standing on the shoulders of those who have spent four decades building Outfest. We are committed to rebuilding in the face of the current headwinds facing the arts, QTBIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. We are inspired by the knowledge that our community has overcome countless obstacles in the past by standing together” .

Staff rehiring has already begun, with key positions in programming, development, communications, and operations restored to ensure the festival’s smooth return. Outfest has committed to rebuilding its team in collaboration with Queer Filmworkers United, a union dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ professionals in film. Daniel Crooke, representing Queer Filmworkers United, praised Outfest’s “fresh approach” and voluntary recognition of the union: “We are greatly encouraged by their commitment to fostering a mutually respectful workplace, as demonstrated by their voluntary recognition of our union” .

Outfest’s influence extends beyond annual celebrations. The nonprofit has evolved into a year-round platform for education, mentorship, funding, and career acceleration, supporting LGBTQ+ creators at every level. Signature programs include the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival, and artist development initiatives such as the Screenwriting Lab and Producers Lab. These programs provide vital resources for emerging and established filmmakers, offering mentorship, funding, and professional development .

The Outfest UCLA Legacy Project remains a cornerstone of the organization’s mission, preserving and archiving LGBTQ+ moving images at risk of being lost to deterioration and neglect. With the largest publicly accessible collection of LGBTQ+ films, Outfest continues to safeguard queer cinematic heritage for future generations .

The festival’s revival arrives at a time of heightened challenges for LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in the arts and media sectors. As anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric surge in some regions, the need for safe spaces and authentic representation is more critical than ever. Outfest’s renewed commitment is not just about film screenings—it’s about ensuring that LGBTQ+ stories are heard, respected, and celebrated. Racster’s statement makes clear “our voices need to be heard” as a direct response to forces seeking to silence queer communities .

Outfest’s community-driven approach is designed to empower transgender people, nonbinary individuals, queer people of color, and all LGBTQ+ identities, both in front of and behind the camera. By nurturing talent through its artist development pipeline, creating spaces for connection, and leveraging the reach of partners like HBO Max, Outfest is positioned to make a lasting impact on the entertainment landscape .

While OutfestNEXT marks the festival’s immediate return, plans are underway to relaunch signature programs in 2026, including Outfest Los Angeles and Outfest Fusion. These events will continue to showcase groundbreaking queer cinema and provide platforms for underrepresented voices. Outfest’s expanded staffing and renewed donor engagement aim to lay the foundation for sustainable growth and increased programming .

Community members and supporters are encouraged to get involved through volunteering, attending screenings, and contributing to Outfest’s mission of inclusive representation. The festival’s website and newsletter offer regular updates on programming, artist opportunities, and ways to participate in this new era for Outfest .

Outfest’s return is more than a relaunch—it is a declaration of resilience and a celebration of authentic queer storytelling. As Bailey, Racster, and leaders across the organization reaffirm, Outfest stands as a testament to the power of community, inclusion, and the transformative potential of film. With renewed leadership, union support, and strategic partnerships, OutfestNEXT is poised to set the stage for a new generation of LGBTQ+ voices—inviting all to gather, celebrate, and shape the future of cinema together.

For more information and updates, visit Outfest.org.