John Cooper & James Franco to Receive Awards at the 2016 OUTFEST LOS ANGELES LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

 

Outfest – the Los Angeles–based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBT stories on the screen – has announced the recipients of their two major awards. Former Outfest Director of Programming and current Sundance Film Festival Director, John Cooper will receive the 20th annual Outfest Achievement Award and James Franco (“King Cobra,” “127 Hours,” “Milk”) will receive the inaugural James Schamus Ally Award.

The Achievement Award is Outfest's highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media. While Cooper is not a traditional filmmaker, his vision has helped to shepherd new directions in independent and LGBT cinema throughout his career. The Achievement Award will be presented by Rose Troche to Cooper prior to the 2016 Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival Opening Night Gala screening of “The Intervention” on Thursday, July 7 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

“Few people have had a larger role in launching the careers of independent filmmakers than John Cooper. For decades he has lead the way in promoting unique and diverse stories and storytellers – both within the LGBT community and without. Each of our stories matter and Cooper continues to give each one dignity by using Sundance as a platform to share them with the world,” said Outfest Executive Director Christopher Racster.

"It has been my good fortune to play a small part in building a community that discovers and celebrates great queer storytellers and launches their work out into the world. I am honored to receive this award from a vital and trailblazing organization like Outfest and in the company of so many others I admire,” said John Cooper.

Outfest has previously presented the Achievement award to John Cameron Mitchell, James Schamus, Kimberly Peirce, John Waters, Jane Lynch, Bill Condon, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Don Roos, Donna Deitch, Kenneth Anger, Gregg Araki, Todd Haynes, Jane Anderson, Christine Vachon, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Gus Van Sant, Ian McKellen, John Schlesinger, and Strand Releasing.

The James Schamus Ally Award was created to honor the efforts of an individual in bringing LGBTQ stories to the forefront. This award given to a straight ally of the LGBTQ community will be presented by Gus Van Sant to James Franco prior to the Special Centerpiece screening of “King Cobra” on Saturday, July 16 at the DGA. The presentation of the James Schamus Ally Award is co-hosted by "King Cobra" director Justin Kelly and producers Scott Levenson and Jordan Yale Levine.

“The only thing more moving to me than being honored by Outfest is having an honor named after me by Outfest. That James Franco will be the first recipient of this new award makes this doubly an honor. Also, this means I am really old,” said James Schamus.

James Franco commented: “I am thrilled to have my name linked with such a Hollywood legend and someone who shepherded all kinds of stories. Nothing was beyond the pale for Schamus – he saw value and entertainment in it all. His work on “Wedding Banquet” to “Brokeback Mountain” to “Milk” changed the landscape for queer cinema and I only hope to make such an impression.”