| The American Heritage Dictionary
defines the word “outcast” as “one who has been
excluded from a society or system.” Yet, despite the negative
connotation of the word’s definition, Vanessa Domico thought
it fitting for the launch of a film distribution company aimed at
sharing stories from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
communities.
“Once I thought of Outcast, I thought it was a great
pun on a couple of levels. The play on the words ‘out’
and ‘cast’ lent itself well. In addition, I thought
I would appropriate the word ‘outcast’ and make it into
a positive word, a word of action instead of passivity,” Domico
says.
From politically-charged issues like gay marriage and meth addiction
to intimately personal explorations about sexual identity and self-acceptance,
in just two short years Outcast Films has already addressed a selection
of the foremost pressing issues in the LGBT community and in the
process has embraced public education and personal activism as its
two primary goals. “When I started the company and requested
films to preview for acquisition, so many of them were dealing with
activism,” Domico recalls.
With recent releases like Pills Profits Protest: Chronicle
of the Global Aids Movement, directed by Anne-Christine
d’Adesky, Shanti Avirgan and Ann T. Rossetti, Outcast is helping
to revitalize the dialogue about AIDS treatment activism and questions
the line between capitalism and human rights. “The LGBT
community is literally fighting for our lives,” Domico
notes. “Because film is an incredibly powerful medium,
it’s the perfect conduit to affect real positive change—to
improve the quality of life for millions of people.”
For more information—or to submit your film—visit www.outcast-films.com.
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