Outfest Fusion: Patrik-Ian Polk’s new film “The Skinny” premieres after he is honored by Lee Daniels

The ninth annual Fusion: The Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival took place over the weekend and I was camped out at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood for much of it.

Thanks to my pal Mark Kellam who accompanied me on Friday and my pal Justino Aguilera who went with me on Saturday. I was a little under the weather on Friday but after a good night’s sleep, was raring to go on Saturday.

Stamina was needed.

Justino – a reporter for Billboard – and I sat through two entire programs of short films, took a dinner break at Skooby’s Hot Dogs, then returned for the main attraction: the world premiere of Patrik-Ian Polk’s new film The Skinny.

The film is about a group of young, sexy friends who reunite in New York City a year after they graduate from Brown University.

They  show off their new loves, but some resort to their old tricks. The three days they spend together in the city shows them what a difference a year makes. (see the trailer below).

The cast is terrific and pretty much across-the-board sexy.

It’s a very sexy, funny, touching  film with a strong message about safe sex included.

There was a special presentation to Polk before the movie began from Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels (Precious).

Polk, who made his feature film directorial debut with Punks, is also the writer-director of the hugely popular Noah’s Arc televisions series and feature film. He was the recipient of the Fusion Achievement Award.

Said Daniels in presenting Polk with the award: “Being a filmmaker is hard work. Being a black filmmaker is hard, hard work. Being a gay black filmmaker is next to impossible.”

“His work is so dope,” he added.

Polk, clearly moved by Daniel’s words called the Precious director “my hero.”

“I’m very appreciative to be honored in this way,” a clearly moved Polk said. “It means a great deal to me.”

Polk told the crowd that he had just finished editing the film a few days earlier and was still a bit sleep-deprived.

But his work is just beginning since he is distributing the film himself.

This means he is renting out theaters himself for a week and getting the word out so people will buy tickets and fill the seats.

The first run begins on April 6 in Washington D.C.

After the film screened Saturday night, there was a very fun party held in the courtyard of the Egyptian. Polk and his band provided the music and I ran into Darryl Stephens, the Noah’s Arc star who has a small role in The Skinny as a nurse.  (Another Noah’s Arc alum, Wilson Cruz, is also briefly in the film in the same scene as Stephens).

We spotted several other cast members from The Skinny including Jussie Smollett (in the photo, left) who is so very good as Magnus in the film, the NYC-based friend who hosts the group for a three-day weekend filled with major drama.