Local Pride: Shreveport’s 15th Annual LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Sept. 11-17, the Robinson Film Center is hosting the 15th annual OUTnorthLa film festival for films by and about LGBTQ people and topics.

Presented by People Acting for Change and Equality, or PACE, a nonprofit LGBTQ organization in Louisiana, the OUTnorthLa film festival began as a local event to promote support and inclusivity for LGBTQ citizens as well as garner change against discriminatory legislation or ideas within the region.

There are a variety of films, both new and old, being shown at the OUTnorthLa film festival. Some of these include “Bookends,” “Girls Like Girls,” “The Dads” and “On the Sea.” The catalogue of films shown at the festival varies yearly based on new releases and current times.

As a diverse campus in the heart of Shreveport, it is important for students to both engage with and support local venues, festivals and events. Students have the ability to see an unlimited number of free showings at the Robinson Film Center, providing free access to all films shown within the OUTnorthLa film festival.

The Centenary Film Society and Robinson Film Center both play large roles in supporting each other. Without the Robinson, Centenary students would not have access to free films, both local and national, as well as places to hold thought-provoking discussions regarding the films shown. Centenary, however, is responsible for the creation of the Robinson Film Center. The Centenary Film society came together as a group of filmmakers and film lovers who wanted to cultivate a space to display and discuss film, inevitably leading to the creation of the Robinson. 

 Centenary Film Society president Cristal Evans states that “[OUTnorthLa] is a space where LGBTQIA+ artists can present their work and share their voices through film, and they’re presented by PACE. PACE has a lot of great resources for people in the community and has a strong drive of keeping Shreveport a safe space.”

Involved with both on-campus and local LGBTQ inclusivity, Centenary’s Outreach organization also speaks on the OUTnorthLa film festival.

“To me, there truly isn’t anything more beautiful than supporting queer art. I find that to be especially true here in the south. Additionally, this connects to what Outreach is all about on and off campus,” says Catherine McCraw, president of Outreach.

Alyx Murov, a Centenary student and employee of the Robinson Film Center, has a unique perspective on the OUTnorthLa film festival and its impact on Centenary.

Murov states that “giving films like these a platform to reach new audiences is such an important tradition and it is really nice getting to see the excitement Centenary students bring to supporting that message. It is such a unique opportunity we get in our community to have a place like the Robinson and events like this really show off how special our town is in its support of the queer community that you just don’t find often when you are this down south.”

Without supporting and garnering support from local venues, Centenary would not have evolved into the campus that it is today. The Robinson Film Center plays a large role in shaping Centenary, and the OUTnorthLa film festival provides a safe space where Centenary students and Shreveport citizens, regardless of sexual or gender identity, can view and discuss films pertinent to their lives.