The Music Center continues its series of intimate events that invite the Los Angeles LGBTQ and ally community to celebrate and connect with each other with Grand Park + Outfest Present PROUD Picnic + Movie Night. Developed in collaboration with a coalition of partners and partner organizations to reflect the diverse interests and experiences of the LGBTQ Angeleno community, Grand Park + Outfest Presents PROUD Picnic + Movie Night has the park partnering
with Outfest for the third year to present a picnic and screening in celebration of fresh and diverse voices in film. A showcase of short films from the Outfest Fusion Festival along with a feature full-length presentation, filmmakers and actors will introduce the films and share insight about their craft. Guests can come early to enjoy an afternoon in the park with the sights, sounds and tastes of the summer including music, food trucks and the park’s popular splash pad and playground. The screening will be held on Grand Park’s Performance Lawn.

Music by: DJ Bianca Oblivion

This year’s featured films are:

FULL LENGTH:

WHEN THE BEAT DROPS
Directed by Jamal Sims
87 mins
Outfest 2018 Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize

Drop into the electric and subversive underground dance scene known as “bucking.” As voguing exploded out of the ballroom scene of NYC, bucking was boldly pioneered in the clubs of the Deep South as a new form of self- expression. This film presents a fresh glimpse into the magnetic artistry and flair behind this emerging dance culture.

In his feature debut, famed choreographer and filmmaker Jamal Sims, who has worked with the likes of Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, and RuPaul’s Drag Race, illuminates the warm-hearted and fierce queer black performers who make up one of the leading “bucking” groups in the city of Atlanta. As they train for their biggest competition yet, they face the risk of losing their jobs and family to compete at the top levels of this dance scene.

Jamal Sims calls dance a “superpower,” and with this film, he crafts a vision of the power of dance to bring movement to new heights and elevate the queer community.

SHORTS:

AMIGAS WITH BENEFITS
Written & Directed by Adelina Anthony
11 mins

A short dramedy about two elderly lesbians who nearly have their wedding day ruined by an uninvited guest.

BROKEN SUNFLOWER HEARTS 
Written & Directed by Miguel Angel Caballero
14 mins

An intimate portrait that tells the story of ANTHONY, a lonely history teacher, and his adopted daughter LUNA. Unexpectedly SAM, his ex-boyfriend, shows up one year after their separation looking for closure or perhaps trying to revive a relationship that once was. Broken Sunflower Hearts is an exploration of the alchemy of love. The kind of love that takes a piece of us with it when we walk away and the kind of love that forever changes us as we move forward.

VENUS RETROGRADE – WORLD PREMIERE
Written & Directed by Alejandra González
6 mins

A short LGBTQ+ film following a Nikkie, a young non-binary person of color, and their journey of self-love and revelation of self.

The filmmaker developed this short as part of Nuevas Novelas, a young filmmakers program run by the nonprofit, Justice for My Sister.

About the program:
“We are changing the face of Hollywood and building skilled leaders by training women of color and LGBTQ folks in filmmaking. They learn to produce their own short films, music videos, and web series. Our participants are ages 17 – 25 and are from Boyle Heights, San Gabriel Valley, South LA, and San Fernando Valley, Norwalk, and Fullerton. They tell stories with an emphasis on gender equality, healthy relationships, and violence prevention.

TRABAJO
Written & Directed by Kase Pena
13m

An 11-year-old Dominican boy, who is hard-of-hearing, searches for a job in order to help his financially struggling mother make ends meet. Written, directed, shot and edited by Transgender filmmaker Kase Pena

Outfest Fusion is an annual film festival celebrating queer communities of color. To learn more, visit outfest.org.

Information subject to change

METRO RED or PURPLE LINE TO CIVIC CENTER/GRAND PARK STATION, GOLD LINE TO LITTLE TOKYO/ARTS DISTRICT STATION

Grand Park is an LA County park powered by The Music Center.