Outfest has unveiled the dates, venues, and lineup for its 39th film festival, which is returning to in-person screenings more than a year and a half after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival will be held this year between August 13-22.

The 2021 edition of the nation’s leading LGBTQ festival kicks off with an opening night screening of Jonathan Butterell’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. The screening, which is being put on in concert with Cinespia, will mark the fest’s first-ever outdoor gala, taking place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Screening at the Orpheum Theatre on August 22, the closing night film is Fanny: The Right to Rock, a documentary about the female rock band of the same name, which was the first to release an album with a major label.

Nearly 200 films will screen at this year’s festival, including 50 international features from such countries as South Korea, Nigeria, Mexico, Cuba, Palestine, Israel, Brazil, Bulgaria and Croatia. Projects making their world premieres include Charles Busch’s The Sixth Reel, absurdist comedy Homebody, musical Boulevard! A Hollywood Story, documentary Gemmel and Tim, Lyle Kash’s Death and Bowling, Pedro Peira’s La Queenciañera, and Grindr-produced comedy series, Bridesman. Making its international premiere is Adrián Silvestre’s Sediments.

Outfest’s Platinum Section, showcasing creators of experimental LGBTQ media and performance, will feature such films as Sundance hit We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and radical UK doc Rebel Dykes. Its Legacy section will feature screenings of classic LGBTQ features including The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, from director Maria Maggenti.

The festival will feature special appearances by Max Harwood and others, with live performances by BeBe Zahara Benet and more. The fifth annual Trans and Non-Binary Summit will be presented, in addition to other special events. Outfest will also present memorial tributes to Outfest alum Ash Christian and icon Cloris Leachman.

Nearly every film presented at the festival will also be available for streaming for those at-risk or who live outside of L.A. area.

“We’re thrilled to be coming back in-person carefully and with intention to celebrate this amazing community, its stories and its resiliency and spirit with so many incredible films and special events,” said Outfest Executive Director, Damien S. Navarro. “Activating at some of our creators’ and audiences’ venue favorites like the DGA, Hollywood Forever, the Orpheum and REDCAT in DTLA, we hope brings all the ‘feels’ everyone is ready for. We can’t wait for everyone to see the festival we have curated – I believe the slate of programming not only meets the moment but distinctly presents the work of some of the most talent contemporaries in queer cinema.”