OUTSOUTH

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival Returns To Durham’s Carolina Theatre In August

DURHAM, NC — The 29th annual OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival returns to Durham August 8-15. The Carolina Theatre-produced event officially runs from August 8-11, with new films premiering, pre-film introductions, and post-film Q&As with artists in attendance. The Après-Fest follows with simple re-screenings from August 12-15. 

OUTSOUTH celebrates a worldwide glimpse of today’s LGBTQ+ life through a diverse array of entertaining and sophisticated shorts, documentaries, and feature films. 

“OUTSOUTH is a time to share our collective stories and remember all the stripes on the flag and how each contributes to the vibrancy of this community, state, and country we call home,” says Randy McKay, President and CEO of the Carolina Theatre of Durham.  

Beginning in 1995 as “A Salute to Pride” and running from 1996-2019 as the North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF), the festival was renamed the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival to reflect the breadth of programming and acknowledge local and regional filmmakers in the Southeast. Since its inception, the festival has been a tentpole event that brings the community together. OUTSOUTH has been named a Signature Event for Durham, the highest honor bestowed on a cultural event or attraction by Discover Durham, an organization that serves the business end of the Durham Tourism Development Authority.  

OUTSOUTH has also received national and international accolades by consistently being ranked as one of the “Top 10 Queer Film Festivals in the U.S.” In 2021, the festival was named one of the “20 Fantastic LGBTQ+ Film Festivals Around the Globe” by Moviemaker Magazine. 

This year, the festival will showcase nine feature films and 98 short films from 13 countries. Some highlights include the sports drama “Clocked,” the heartwarming documentary “Unusually Normal,” the holiday horror “Carnage for Christmas,” and the much-anticipated drama romance “Kuch Sapney Apne/Dreams Such As Ours,” which is the long-awaited sequel to one of NCGLFF’s biggest hits, “Evening Shadows.” 

“We are thrilled to showcase this year’s line-up, a wonderfully inviting mix of shorts, features, and documentaries,” says Chuck Wheeler, OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival Manager. “Our goal in 2024 is to celebrate what brings us together.  And to reflect that intent, this year’s theme is “Friends, Family, and Community.” That means everyone, y’all! So please plan to join us in the celebration this August at OUTSOUTH at the Carolina Theatre in Durham!” 

Individual tickets are $15 (plus taxes and fees), and 10-Passes are $120 (plus taxes and fees). Tickets can be purchased online at carolinatheatre.org or at the theater’s box office, while 10-Passes can only be purchased in person at the box office. 

OUTSOUTH is presented by The Forest at Duke and is sponsored by One Standing Cow and Gilead, among other local and national businesses. 

About The Carolina Theatre of Durham 

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. It is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking films and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. More information is available at carolinatheatre.org

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