About Our Organization

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival is committed to celebrating the finest LGBTQ+ film from around the world, and building a stronger community in the process. Founded in Winston-Salem in 2004, OUT at the Movies has served the LGBTQ+ community and its allies through film screenings and events. As the only 501(c)3  LGBTQ+ film festival west of Durham, we view our role as more than a platform for the screening of films: we use our screenings and events as opportunities to spark conversation and understanding, highlight emergent issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, and build a more tolerant place for LGBTQ+ people to live, work, and play.

The core of our organization lies in our film festival, which celebrated its 10th annual year in 2023. We screen on average 40 LGBTQ+ films over four days, hold 8-10 educational talkbacks, and offer an accessible price structure. In addition to this annual operation, we hold year-round film screenings for the community, which pull from both cutting-edge and iconic LGBTQ+ films.

As LGBTQ+ centered film and television is increasingly distributed through mainstream channels, our role as an LGBTQ+ film festival has evolved. In addition to our screening-centered programming, we directly support emerging filmmakers through the Emerging Artist Film Grant, which has awarded $12,000 to six production teams in the past two years. In September 2023, we launched the Queer History Project, in collaboration with the Documentary Film Program (MFA) at Wake Forest University and MUSE Winston- Salem. This initiative produces original short form documentary content that highlights and celebrates LGBTQ+ life in the Triad, past and present. We award a scholarship to a deserving and qualifying UNCSA School of Filmmaking  student on an annual basis.

OUT at the Movies is a 501c3 organization.

Our People

Board of Directors

Zach Birtsch

Clint Cedillo

Dean Culler, President

Brigith Dávila

Ann Gauthreaux

Andrew Golden

Rob Hartley, Treasurer

Connor Higgins

Greg Knouse

Mike Majett, Secretary

Gracie Rodgers

Ron Stacker Thompson, Vice President

Alyson Williams 

Staff

Rex Welton, Founder and Executive Director

Max Cullen, Director of Operations & Marketing

Advisory Board

Mohammed Shaik Hussain Ali

Marisa Calin

Crystal Chappell

Barney Cheng

Nicole Conn

Rob Davis

Eden Lane

Kerry Michelle O’Brien

Del Shores

2025 Festival Team

Matt Jones – Technical Director

Brent Patterson – Promo Reel
Creator

Jill Petras – Events Coordinator

Alice Sanders – Program Book
Designer

Eric Self – Technical Director

Angela Stewart – Transportation Coordinator

Vikki Vassar – Program Cover
Artist

Brandon Yunker – Lead
Projectionist

2025 Screening Committee

Isabella Lenchik

Yamile McBride

Maya Mills

Brent Moore

Robert Rocco

Gracie Rodgers

Sue Rupp

Lany Shaw

Amy Slusher

Lauren Taylor

Ron Stacker Thompson

Carrie Varnedore

Rex Welton

Kenny Weschler

Rick Wicker

Sabra Wilson

Tim Yersin