Your Guide to OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival

The events below occurred in 2023. For details on the 2024 OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, check back closer to the date.

Formerly the North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival, the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival is returning to the Carolina Theatre on August 10-13, 2023. This year's festival marks over a quarter century of embracing and celebrating the LGBTQIA community in Durham and worldwide.

The festival features shorts, documentaries and feature films that celebrate gay, lesbian and transgender life, including independent and mainstream productions.

After the festival events are over, rub elbows with like-minded folks at queer-owned and queer-friendly local bars and restaurants like –

• The Pinhook – a community-forward bar and venue with live events like local and touring bands and drag shows.
• Velvet Hippo – a recently opened rooftop bar offering good vibes and drinks for everyone.
• Rubies on Five Points – a casual bar and venue with nightly events like live music and dance parties.
• Arcana – an intimate bar with a tarot theme & loungey decor known for draft cocktails and mocktails and a variety of artistic events.
• Queeny’s – a uniquely Durham gathering place with casual vibes, serving good food and drinks until late.

Learn more about LGBTQIA-owned businesses in Durham and find out how Durham celebrates queer culture all year round.

This incredible festival dates back to 1995 when it debuted as the QFest. That was the same year the NC Pride Parade approached the Carolina Theatre with the idea of hosting a gay and lesbian film festival in conjunction with Pride’s annual parade and festival.

“At the time, there might have been a gay and lesbian film festival in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other major cities, but the idea of a smaller city like Durham holding one was nonexistent,” said Jim Carl, senior director of film at the Carolina Theatre.

The festival attracted a few hundred people in its first year, but now it attracts over 15,000. “The lobbies are packed. The screenings are packed,” said Carl.

Special Events

OUTSOUTH allows visitors to see a variety of films they most likely won't find in a theater elsewhere. Screenings range from programs of short films and international films to screwball comedies, dramas, and more.

Here's a list of this year's big films:

• Big Boys is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about a teenage boy's unexpected crush, a camping trip and a weekend of self-discovery.
• Glitter & Doom is a surreal, glittery musical romance set to the hits of Indigo Girls.
• Silver Haze is a story of love and revenge set in gritty, working-class East London.
• Two Lives in Pittsburgh is a story of a traditional, blue-collar guy who is torn between who he has always been and who his child needs him to be.
• Commitment to Life documents the true story of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles

• Films with ties to North Carolina include short films Agents of Change, Project Polymer; Campfire; Black Rainbow Love; That's Family. Feature film The Jessica Cabin also has ties to North Carolina.
  

Where to Stay

When you come to OUTSOUTH, don't forget that the Carolina Theatre is situated in the heart of downtown Durham, a walkable district with plenty of new things to see and do. There are five hotels within walking distance of the Carolina Theatre:

• Durham Marriott City Center Marriott City Center is connected to the Carolina Theatre, offering easy access to festival activities.

• 21c Museum Hotel Explore the hotel’s art collection and snag a selfie with the 21c mascot – a hot magenta penguin (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• The Durham Hotel A mid-century boutique hotel with a celebrated restaurant and rooftop bar (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• Aloft Durham Downtown Located near the American Tobacco Campus, Aloft offers a modern aesthetic, heated pool, and proximity to plenty of dining and entertainment options (.5 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• Residence Inn Durham McPherson/Duke University Medical Center Area The newly constructed Residence Inn has apartment-style suites, heated pool, and fitness center near the Brightleaf District (.6 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• Unscripted Durham An eclectic hotel with a rooftop deck, pool and unique cocktail and cuisine options. (.1 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
  
• Springhill Suites by Marriott City View A stylish, all-suite hotel with modern amenities and sustainable practices. Enjoy free breakfast and bring along the pup for a pet-friendly stay. (.8 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

What to Eat

You’ll also find various restaurants and bars in downtown Durham, ranging from grab-and-go options to snag between films to celebrated hot spots where you can unwind after a film-filled day. (Check out our comprehensive list of downtown restaurants.)

• Mothers & Sons Trattoria Specializing in handmade pasta, antipasti, and traditional Italian dishes. Dinner only (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• Beyu Caffè This restaurant and café is the perfect place to grab brunch, lunch, or a latte to unwind between showings. (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• M Sushi An upscale sushi restaurant that offers an authentic Omakase dining experience (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• Bulldega A neighborhood grocery that offers the essentials alongside grab-and-go meal options (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• Littler A dinner-only restaurant serving inventive dishes in an intimate environment (.3 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

• NanaSteak A modern steakhouse in a chic space with abundant natural light (.4 miles from the Carolina Theatre).

Between the films, the special events, and a great location downtown, OUTSOUTH is an excellent opportunity to experience Durham!