Outfest 2013 kicks off tonight at Orpheum Theatre with screening of “C.O.G.’ and honoring Kimberly Peirce

Okay, it’s here!

Outfest, the Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival begins tonight.

NOTE: There are still tickets available for tonight’s gala. They will be available for purchase at the Orpheum Box Office starting at 5:30pm (cash or credit card only).

For the past 12 years or so, Outfest has been a highlight of my summer.

I’ve been watching some of the screeners, poured over the schedule and chatted with some of the filmmakers so there will be plenty of coverage here on the blog about the event for the next 12 days.

Although the festival will mostly take place at the DGA Theatre and nearby Sundance 5 and Harmony Gold theaters, there are also many screenings at the Redcat downtown.

And downtown is where we will be tonight for the opening night at the gorgeous Orpheum Theatre downtown.

Outfest will present its 17th annual Achievement Award to writer/director Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry, Stop-Loss, Carrie). This is the organization’s highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media.

Then it will be time for the screening of Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s C.O.G., based on the short story by David Sedaris.

The film stars Jonathan Groff of Glee fame as a recent college graduate who decides to get close to nature and the working class buy spending a summer picking apples in Oregon. He finds himself on a path of figuring out who he is and what he wants.

The filmmaker and star will both be in attendance. I’ll be covering the red carpet arrivals, the after-party and everything in between and have a full report for you tomorrow!

Am going to next post 10 films I don’t think you should miss and in the coming days, will be posting interviews with the cast and director of Hot Guys With Guns, Southern Baptist Sissies, and closing night film GBF.

For more information and for a complete listing of films in the Festival, log on to www.outfest.org/fest2013 or call 213-480-7065.