Industry Leaders and Filmmakers Promote LGBTQ Diversity in Film and Television

DIRECTV NOW* is a proud sponsor of the 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival and you’re invited! Taking place July 12–22 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Outfest is 11 days of can’t-miss films, thought-provoking panels, festival receptions and more. The Los Angeles festival screens more than 250 short and feature films, and draws over 40,000 attendees each year. 

DIRECTV NOW will kick off Outfest on July 12. Attendees can stop by our exclusive photo booth and get their photo from the festival in the DIRECTV NOW Lounge. The DIRECTV NOW Lounge will also feature an interactive art installation where guests will be asked to open their hearts and Turn Up the Love for LGBTQ youth. AT&T will also sponsor other exciting events throughout the festival that celebrate LGBTQ representation in front of and behind the camera.

An AT&T original screening and panel

AT&T AUDIENCE Network will host an L.A. screening and panel of its new documentary, “Alone in the Game,” on Friday July 13 at 9:30 p.m. PT in the DGA 2 Theater. “Alone In The Game” shines a light on the stark reality of the big business of sports. It also exposes a culture of exclusion, bigotry and discrimination which keeps many LGBTQ athletes in the closet and living in silence. Featured guests attending the premiere include:

  • Gus Kenworthy, Sochi Olympic medalist
  • Robbie Rogers, former MLS star
  • Ryan O’Callaghan, former New England Patriot
  • LZ Granderson, former ESPN columnist
  • Layana White, former NCAA basketball player
  • Haley Videckis, former NCAA basketball player
  • David McFarland, Executive Producer & Creator
  • Natalie Metzger, Director

You can catch “Alone in The Game” On Demand exclusively on AT&T AUDIENCE Network – DIRECTV ch. 1239 and AT&T U-verse ch. 1114 and via streaming services on DIRECTV NOW, DIRECTV, and AT&T U-verse apps.

A thought-provoking panel

AT&T Hello Lab will also host the Make Them Hear You – The Truth about Content

By and For LGBTQ+ Women” panel on Saturday, July 14 at noon PT. Christine Vachon (Producer, CAROL, BOYS DON’T CRY), Sara Shaw (Director/Editor, THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST), Ashly Perez (Producer/Writer/Director, formerly of Buzzfeed) and Sheria Irving (Actor, A LUV TALE) will share their experiences and insight during this live discussion. Brooke Chaffin, CEO and co-founder of the social networking and live events startup Maverick, will moderate.

And just before Saturday’s panel, we’ll host a special showing of panelist and AT&T Hello Lab mentee Sara Shaw’s debut film, “Tooth and Nail.” The 25-minute short film tells the story of an estranged family coming to grips with the terminal cancer diagnosis of its youngest child. Shaw completed the film as part of the AT&T Hello Lab Mentorship Program.

Join the conversation and stay up to date on AT&T’s presence at the 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival by following #DIRECTVNOW and #OUTFESTLA and on social media. To follow this and all of AT&T’s 2018 LGBTQ summer initiatives, follow #TURNUPTHELOVE.

To learn more about Outfest or to buy tickets, go to outfest.org.

To check out the latest films brought to you by AT&T Hello Lab, go to directv.com/networks/atthellolab or watch On Demand.

And learn more about AT&T’s commitment to the LGBTQ community at our Live Proud and Diversity and Inclusion sites.

*About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we innovate to improve lives. We have the nation’s largest and most reliable network and the nation’s best network for video streaming.** We’re building FirstNet just for first responders and creating next-generation mobile 5G. With DIRECTV and DIRECTV NOW, we deliver entertainment people love to talk about. Our smart, highly secure solutions serve over 3 million global businesses – nearly all of the Fortune 1000. And worldwide, our spirit of service drives employees to give back to their communities.

AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Learn more at att.com/CommunicationsNews.

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About Outfest:

Founded by UCLA students in 1982, Outfest is the world’s leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen. Outfest builds community by connecting diverse populations to discover, discuss and celebrate stories of LGBTQ lives. Over the past three decades, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the world, educated and mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers, and protected more than 35,000 LGBTQ films and videos. Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival is eleven days of world-class films, panels, and parties. For more information and for a complete listing of films in 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, log on to outfest.org or call 213-480-7065, Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm.

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