Outfest has named Christopher Racster as its new executive director, the organization announced Thursday.
He will oversee creative and fiscal management, as well as fundraising, program development and staff management. Racster succeeded Kirsten Schaffer as interim executive director when Schaffer left Outfest in the spring. Racster assumes his official position as executive director effective immediately.
A trusted voice in the LGBTQ community for almost 20 years, Racster has made an international impact as an advocate, fundraiser and filmmaker, employing media to help shape public perception and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Starting in 1994, Racster produced Divine Design for Project Angel Food, which he elevated to a million-dollar annual fundraiser over the course of five years. Fueled by the challenges the LGBTQ community continued to face in the late ’90s, Racster realized his dream of becoming a film producer.
His first film, “April’s Shower,” was selected for Outfest Los Angeles, beginning a decade-long relationship with the organization that would be critical to his career as a filmmaker. His other producing credits include “Say Uncle,” “Save Me,” and “Spork,” all of which also screened at Outfest Los Angeles.
In 2011, Racster joined Outfest as director of individual giving, promoted in turn to director of development, and then in 2014, deputy director.
Outfest will be honoring Academy Award-winning actor, director and producer Tom Hanks and Academy Award-nominated writer-director Lisa Cholodenko at the organization’s 2015 Legacy Awards on Nov. 5. The Legacy Awards serves as a fundraiser to support the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.