May 23, 2017

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival announced today that LGBTQ+ activist, New York Times bestselling author and YouTube/podcast personality Tyler Oakley  (@tyleroakley) will be a guest at this year’s Festival. Tyler will participate in a special “In Conversation” moderated by Etalk Reporter Liz Trinnear (@liztrinnear) on Friday, May 26 at 4 p.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A and meet-and-greet session with select attendees. This event rounds out Inside Out’s expanded Youth Day programming, a day that brings out LGBTQ+ youth to the Festival for inspiring panels and conversations with emerging and professional LGBTQ+ filmmakers and personalities. Youth Day is generously supported by Centennial College. Tickets to the event are now available at insideout.ca. Inside Out runs from May 25 to June 4, 2017.
 
As a vlogger and activist, Tyler has firmly established himself as one of one of the most influential LGBTQ+ voices among youth with over 7.5M+ subscribers on YouTube and over 23M+ across his social media platforms. Named one of Time Magazine’s 30 Most Influential People on the Internet and included in The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Digital Stars List in 2015, Tyler is also the New York Times bestselling author of Binge and was a digital platforms consultant for former President Obama and Michelle Obama. Since 2009, Tyler has been a major supporter of The Trevor Project, an organization for the prevention of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth for which he has helped raise over $1 million.
 
“Tyler’s ability to inspire and connect with LGBTQ+ youth around the world is remarkable and invaluable,” said Andrew Murphy, Director of Programming at Inside Out. “His signature insights into life, growing up, and the importance of being yourself make Tyler the perfect guest for the Youth Day experience we are offering at this year’s Festival.”
 
A reporter for CTV’s Etalk, Canada’s most-watched entertainment program, Trinnear has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Quentin Tarantino, Will Ferrell and more. 
 

Additional Youth Day programming includes: 

Young Filmmakers in Conversation
Inside Out Programming Committee Member Allia McLeod (Huffington Post), will lead a conversation  with a panel of LGBTQ filmmakers as they discuss their personal journeys, professional developments, and what it means to be a Canadian queer filmmaker today.
 
The panelists include: Ben Lewis (actor: Degrassi, The Handmaid's Tale; director: Apart from Everything), Sarah Rotella (director: Almost Adults, Indiewire's 2015 project of the year), Kyle Reaume (director: What About Shelley, winner of 2016 Inside Out BravoFACT pitch competition), Gein Wong (director: Jimmy Does Dating, filmmaker mentor in Inside Out's New Visions program), and Stephanie Markowitz (director: Gabey and Mike: A Jewish Summer Camp Love Story).
 
Youth Shorts: Teenage Dream Screening
A screening of six short films that deal with the challenges and realities that relate to LGBTQ youth. For full film lineup, please click here.
 
Taking place May 25 to June 4, 2017, Inside Out celebrates 27 years of presenting wide-ranging films that entertain, inspire and confront challenges in the LGBT community. Tickets are now on sale at insideout.ca.