From Trans Politicians to First Loves: Must-See Latino LGBTQ Movies at Outfest Fusion

As conversations about representation on the big screen keep raging on, it’s heartening to see organizations like Outfest making room for programming that aims to showcase work from LGBTQ people of color. Called Outfest Fusion, this year’s film festival will not only feature films from Japan, Mexico, India, and Venezuela, but workshops for up-and-coming filmmakers. For example, if you’re looking to get more insight into what it takes to break into TV writing, you won’t want to miss the aptly-titled Masterclass (“QPOC Writers on Writing & Pitching”) which will boast the very funny Michelle Badillo, a story editor from Netflix’s One Day At A Time as well as Bronx-native (and creator of the upcoming series Pose) Steven Canals. Or perhaps you want to find out how to channel your own ideas into a feature film? Then join Latinx filmmakers Kase Pena, Henry Alberto, and Abel Soto in their “Finding Your Story” workshop to get tips on what they’ve learned along the way.

But really, it’s all about the movies. If you’re in the Los Angeles area hoping to see some queer Latino films, we’ve hand-picked two features and three shorts you can’t miss at the annual fest. Though, there’s so much talent on display, you should make room to catch as many flicks as possible while you’re there. Check out our top picks below.

As an added bonus check out this event a few days before the fest kicks off. Outfest’s West Hollywood Series will host, on March 7, a live reading of Henry Alberto’s screenplay Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Set in 1987 in El Paso, Texas and based on the eponymous novel, this film follows two-teenage Mexican-American loners. This screenplay will be read live by a star-studded cast including: Liz Torres (Gilmore Girls), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty, Devious Maids), and Madison De La Garza (Desperate Housewives). Get tickets here.

Outfest Fusion runs March 9-13, 2018.