Justice Obiaya has been appointed Executive Director of Atlanta’s premiere LGBTQIA+ festival, Out On Film. He now becomes the first Executive Director in the festival’s remarkable 37 year history. 

“As Out On Film has grown over the years, it has become abundantly clear that we need someone full-time leading us, and Justice is the perfect person to do that,” explained chairman Craig Hardesty. “Justice is committed to serving the LGBTQIA+ community and the queer arts in Atlanta and has been a vital member of our team for years. We look forward to seeing where we can go with Justice at the helm.”

In his new role, Obiaya will be responsible for overseeing daily operations, handling administrative tasks, and managing development responsibilities across each department. Meanwhile, festival director Jim Farmer will continue to focus on year-round programming.

“For over three decades, Out On Film has been doing exceptional work to support the queer community through the arts,” said Obiaya. “In my eight years on their committee, I’ve seen the organization grow tremendously and provide needed and positive LGBTQIA+ representation. I’m honored for the opportunity to step into this role and continue our mission of enriching our culture by showcasing films for, by, and about us.”  

With a wealth of film festival expertise, Obiaya has a background that includes serving as the marketing and business manager for ASIFA-South and holding various positions at the Atlanta Film Society. His involvement with Out on Film spans several years, during which he served as a volunteer, festival coordinator, and chair of the marketing committee. 

After being founded in 1987 by Rebecca Ransom, Out On Film has grown into one of the most popular film festivals in the country with 11 days of content spread across several venues. USA Today named it the #1 film festival in the nation for 2023, and 2024 is looking even brighter after the addition of Obiaya. The submission deadline for this year’s edition of Out On Film is June 5, 2024 and to learn more about the whole event, visit their website Out On Film!