Tampa
Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Announces New Executive Director
The
Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF)
is excited to announce Victor Gimenez, formerly Executive
Director of OUTShine LGBTQ+ Festival in Miami and Fort Lauderdale,
as its new Executive Director.
Mr. Gimenez will lead TIGLFF into its 33rd year and out
of the pandemic by overseeing all aspects of the organization
from fundraising to programming and building a new outreach
effort in the community. In addition to the annual festival,
which takes place in October, he will oversee newer programs
such as the Trans Film Festival in November and the BIPOC Festival
in June.
Sharing his thoughts and enthusiasm about coming to TIGLFF,
Mr. Gimenez said “The Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian
Film Festival is at a great crossroads to become a more vibrant
part of the Tampa/St. Pete LGBTQ+ community by not only being
an avenue where great films will be shown, but also allowing
the community to come together to discuss those films, learn
more about each other, and create meaningful dialogue.”
Mr. Gimenez has extensive experience with growing an international
film festival as he has served for six years as the Executive
Director for OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival which produces an
11-day Miami edition in April, an 8-day Fort Lauderdale edition
in October, and periodic one-off GLOW screenings. During his
time at OUTshine, the organization rebranded itself as OUTshine,
increased cash reserves by over 200%, successfully launched
OUTshine's Big Night Out--a simulcast Oscar Gala--created a
monthly free screening program of classic LGBTQ+ films, partnered
with Superfine! Art Fair to bring an LGBTQ+ shorts program to
their events in different US cities, and successfully navigated
OUTshine through the COVID Pandemic.
Rob Akins, Board President at TIGLFF remarked, “We are excited
for Victor to join TIGLFF. His years of experience in the industry
will be instrumental in leading the organization and realizing
the board's vision for TIGLFF, to once again, be a leading LGBTQ+
arts organization.”
Before his time as Executive Director of OUTshine, Mr. Gimenez
served on the Board of the organization and was chair of the
programming committee. Previous to his involvement in the not-for-profit
world of arts & culture, he worked for twenty years in construction
management and general contracting. Mr. Gimenez and his husband
Edwin Scharlau have been married since 2007 and have two children.
About
TIGLFF
The Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival began
in 1990 through the outreach of several local community-based
organizations. Since then, TIGLFF has showcased thousands of
films for Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ community and has helped usher in
a renaissance of Tampa's downtown from its base at the historic
Tampa Theatre on Franklin Street. In 2005, TIGLFF began expanding
content to include a year-round film series with screenings
in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. Our mission is to showcase
a selection of compelling films and videos by, for, or about
the LGBTQ+ community that Entertains, Empowers, and Enlightens
the festival audience.