Reflections from Outfest
Two Great Big Story producers recount their experience at the longest running LGBTQ film festival in Los Angeles
Editor’s note: On Sunday, July 22nd, Mama Dragons received the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short. More info on Deadline.com.
As told by Andria May-Corsini + Adam Wolffbrandt
Why did you attend Outfest?
We attended Outfest because our film, Mama Dragons, was officially selected to the program and was making its world premiere (watch the trailer here). To us, it was the perfect venue because the film at its core is about the LGBTQ community. What better place to premiere it than a festival that for the past 35+ years has protected more than 20,000 LGBTQ films and videos?
How did this compare to other festivals you’ve attended?
This was the best festival experience we ever had. Both of us have had things screened before but never at this level or as an official selection. We made sure to attend every event and panel we were invited to. The feeling at the festival was contagious and we felt inspired. We met so many likeminded and talented people. It was an honor to have our film premiere there.
What were some projects that stood out?
Two films that really stood out to us were The Gospel of Eureka as well as We The Animals. Our film preceded The Gospel of Eureka and the pairing couldn’t have been better. The Gospel of Eureka is a brilliant documentary about a small town in Arkansas, which explores the bible belt town of Eureka. We the Animals is a narrative film that is both haunting and beautiful; everything about it stays with you. It opens in theaters this August, so go see it!
Describe how you felt going into your screening Saturday afternoon.
The day of the screening we were very nervous, excited, and anxious. We were so excited to finally get this story out into the world, and above all else we wanted it to help people and show that everyone is deserving of love.
Were the audience reactions what you expected?
The whole day was such a whirlwind experience that it’s hard to recount everything that happened. I remember while our film was being screened I was watching two guys that were sitting in front of us. Both cried and both reacted at the end the way we hoped they would. Post-screening we spoke to a lot of people that were in the audience and their reaction was incredible too! People commented on not only the story but also the quality and beauty of the film. (Thanks, Adam Wolffbrandt).
How did the Mama Dragons react to seeing their story on the big screen?
We had about fifteen Mama Dragons at the screening. All of our main characters had already seen it, but the bulk of the women there had not. It was incredibly important for us that they like the film and much to our delight, all of the Mama’s LOVED IT. They felt it was the most accurate representation of them and their mission that they had ever seen. In the past, when media authored print stories about them, there always seemed to be something wrong or needing clarification. This was the first and only time they felt their message and organization had been properly reflected.
Looking back, is there one thing that made this an unforgettable experience?
Getting the news that we were officially selected was incredible! Premiering this film at an LGBTQ festival felt like a dream that, at least for me, didn’t really set in until opening night. The most memorable moment at the festival was two fold: introducing our film to an audience and when the film started. That first frame that came up, I was hardly breathing, hoping playback would go according to plan and all that technical nonsense. After the film screened I think we both exhaled a huge sigh of relief. It was over, people had seen our film and we couldn’t have been more delighted.
