Outfest, one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian film festivals and the largest film festival in Southern California, has announced its coveted 11th Annual Film Competition Awards, sponsored by Tylenol PM, in which 15 competitive film awards were announced in three categories: Grand Jury Awards, Audience Awards and Special Programming Awards.

Outfest 2005, the festival’s 23rd edition, featured 232 films and videos from 28 countries, exhibited in nine venues over 12 days. The festival boasted five galas, 69 feature film programs, 17 short film programs, six special events, six panels, and appearances by arguably two of the most celebrated Mayors in the country – Los Angeles’ Antonio Villaraigosa and San Francisco’s Gavin Newsom. The awards ceremony, hosted by Kathy Griffin and held prior to the Los Angeles debut of “Summer Storm” at the John Anson Amphitheatre, included such celebrity presenters as Rachel Dratch, Heather Matarazzo, Chastity Bono, Judith Light, Wilson Cruz, Bai Ling, Taylor Dayne and Janice Dickinson.

“Outfest this year was terrific,” said Stephen Gutwillig, Executive Director, “on a par with the most successful of our festivals in years past. It is an extraordinary time now for queer cinema, and we featured an amazing showcase of strong, intelligent, entertaining and diverse films, events, panels and parties. I am happy to say it’s been another good year.”

The winners of the Grand Jury Awards are as follows:

OUTstanding American Narrative Feature – “Loggerheads”
Director: Tim Kirkman
This award also includes a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of 20th Century Fox

OUTstanding International Narrative Feature – “A Year Without Love” (“Un Año Sin Amor”)
Director: Anahi Berneri

OUTstanding Documentary Feature – “Three of Hearts: A Postmodern Family”
Director: Susan Kaplan

OUTstanding Actor in a Feature Film – Darian Sills
For “The Reception”

OUTstanding Actress in a Feature Film – Amber Benson
For “Race You to the Bottom”

OUTstanding Screenwriting – Georgia Lee
For “Red Doors”

The winners of the Audience Awards are as follows:

HBO OUTstanding First Narrative Feature – “Red Doors”
Director: Georgia Lee
This award also includes a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of HBO

OUTstanding Narrative Feature – “Guys & Balls”
Director: Sherry Horman

OUTstanding Documentary Feature – “Little Man”
Director: Nicole Conn

OUTstanding Narrative Short Film – “Ryan’s Life”
Director: Nick Wauters

OUTstanding Documentary Short Film – “This is How I Love You”
Director: Christopher Harris & REACH LA

OUTstanding Soundtrack – “Queer Realities and Cultural Amnesia”
Chris Rael

The winners of the Special Programming Awards are as follows:

Freedom Award – Llil Alexander, Director
For “Keep Not Silent”

OUTstanding Emerging Talent – Yair Hochner, Director
For “Good Boys” (“Yeladim Tovim”)
This award also includes a $5,000 product grant, courtesy of Kodak

OUTstanding Artistic Achievement – Jenni Olson, Director
For “The Joy of Life”

The American Features Competition jurors were Q. Allan Brocka, Tommy O’Haver and Anne Stockwell. The International Features Competition jurors were Caroline Libresco, Jeremy Podeswa and François Trochet. The Documentary Competition jurors were Jennifer Arnold, Lisa Daniel and Eugene Hernandez.

Outfest 2005 is presented by Absolut and HBO. Premiere sponsors include Adelphia, The Advocate, Directors Guild of America (DGA), here! TV, Mercedes-Benz and Q Television Network. For more information, log on to www.outfest.org or call 213/480-7065.