Outfest Celebrates Diversity with Black AIDS Institute
"The DL Chronicles" returns as part of the "Chadwick Journals" at Outfest.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.-- The Black AIDS Institute will partner with the Outfest Los Angeles LGBT film festival. Taking place between July 7-17, 2016, Outfest builds bridges between audiences, filmmakers and the entertainment industry through the exhibition of high-quality gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer and transgender themed films and videos.
On July 10, festivalgoers will view the highly anticipated world premier of season two of "The Chadwick Journals," a hybrid pre/sequel to the wildly popular TV series, "The DL Chronicles." Lead character Chadwick Williams attempts to understand his estranged brother's secret life by interviewing closeted men he finds online. This psychological drama delves deeper into the minds of those men, often with juicy revelations.
Festival viewers will have the opportunity to watch the entire first season, followed by season two, as well as the chance to engage in a question and answer session with its stars and creators, Deondray & Quincy LeNear Gossfield, longtime friends and supporters of the Black AIDS Institute.
The Gossfields have directed, written, and produced the star-studded Heroes in the Struggle Gala Reception and Awards Ceremony from 2008-2015. Deondray and Quincy were also the directors, producers, and writers of the Black AIDS Institute's and Kaiser Family Foundation's "Greater than AIDS" PSA, the first nationally televised AIDS awareness campaigns specifically focused on people of color.
Other works of the Gossfields include producing such reality TV shows as America's Best Dance Crew (MTV), The Sing Off (NBCUniversal), Shake It Up Make Your Mark Ultimate Dance Off (The Disney Channel), and Family Dance Off (ABC).
Among their many television and film credits, Deondray and Quincy enjoy both giving back and paying it forward and have ventured into a philanthropic effort with Outfest Film Festival and Sony Pictures' OutSet program, which supports young LGBTQ filmmakers in their quests to become professional directors, writers and producers. The two also will work with Revolution in Color, a young Black gay men's leadership group.
Also premiering during Outfest is "Jewel's Catch One." The documentary, premiering July 10 at Hollywood's Harmony Gold, charts the history of the nightclub by the same name and highlights the work of Jewel Thais-Williams, 2002 Black AIDS Institute Hero in the Struggle.
Through interviews with former staff, patrons and community leaders, filmmaker C. Fitz creates a piece that celebrates Thais-Williams as a woman who battled racism, sexism, and homophobia to forge and maintain a much-needed refuge. She broke down racial and cultural barriers while running the oldest Black owned discos in America. This film commemorates her activism and the impact of Catch One on music, dance, fashion and celebrity that helped changed the course of our country.
The Black AIDS Institute is also Community Collaborator for "Last Men Standing" directed by Tim Hussin and Erin Brenthauer. The film follows eight older HIV-positve men as they share their struggles and triumphs as they navigate the golden years they never thought they'd see.
"Last Men Standing" will be screening at Harmony Gold on Monday, July 11th at 9:30 p.m.
For tickets or more information, contact