Billy Porter receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Outfest 2022 and kicked-off Opening Night with his rom-com directing feature debut “Anything’s Possible”

By Oliver Carnay

The 2022 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival kicked off last night at the iconic Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles with the screening of Billy Porter’s “Anything’s Possible,” an uplifting teenage romantic-comedy about a high school student who asked out a transsexual schoolmate out on a date.

The program opened with a number from the sensational Tiktok dance-pop group The Future X, to the delight of the audience.

Porter received the highest recognition from Outfest with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award, where his lead actors Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali presented the award. Porter called in the rest of the cast including Christine Vachon, producer of the film.

Porter gave a stirring political speech citing issues including the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding Roe vs. Wade, and fearing court might revisit other rulings such as same sex marriage and same sex consensual sex, “We worked too hard for our progress and we ain’t going back!,” he stated.

Before the screening, Porter sang the film’s soundtrack “Impossible Is Possible,” with Shea Diamond. The soundtrack will be released on July 22, on the same day the film is released on Prime Video.

Among attendees at the red carpet are Billy Porter (Director, Anything’s Possible), Eva Reign (Actress, Anything’s Possible), Abubakr Ali (Actor, Anything’s Possible), Ximena García Lecuona (Writer, Anything’s Possible), Christine Vachon (Producer, Anything’s Possible), Allison Rose Carter (Executive Producer, Anything’s Possible), D.J. Gugenheim (Executive Producer, Anything’s Possible), Courtnee Carter (Actress, Anything’s Possible), Kelly Lamor Wilson (Actress, Anything’s Possible), Simone Joy Jones (Actress, Anything’s Possible), Justin Tranter (Singer/Songwriter, Anything’s Possible), Shea Diamond (Performer, Anything’s Possible), Alana Mayo (Orion Pictures), Julie Rapaport (Amazon).

Other guests include Alec Mapa (Half & Half), Alexis G. Zall (Influencer/Actress), Autumn Rowe (Musician), Ava Capri (Love, Victor), Barrett Foa (NCIS: Los Angeles), Cameron Esposito (Comedian), Carter Ray (The Change Up), Cayley Spivey (Musician), Cheryl Rich (The House), Cole Walliser (Filmmaker), Colman Domingo (Euphoria), Derek Jae (Influencer), Dylan Mulvaney (TikTok Influencer), Eboni K. Williams (The Real Housewives of New York City), Garrett Clayton (Teen Beach Movie), Javicia Leslie (Batwoman), John Sibilly (Pose), Leonardo Nam (Westworld), Sandy Stern (Producer), Thomas Dekker (Swimming With Sharks), Tomás Mato (Fire Island).

Ticketed wristbands were given for the VIP pre-party and after-party to avail free foods, drinks, ice cream, and more (check out more pics from the Opening Night “here”)

The festival, now on its 40th anniversary, is running from July 14 through July 24. Screenings are in-person and some are also available via online streaming. For festival guide, daily screening, details about each feature, shorts, documentary, and other special events, please go to www.outfestla.org.