PHOTOS: Outfest 2016's Opening Night Gala

It was a star-filled and dramatic opening night at this year's Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. Out actress Clea DuVall led the cast of The Intervention, her directorial debut, down the red carpet in front of the Orpheum Theatre last Thursday. Her movie opened the festiva and was hotly anticipated for the on-screen reunion of But I'm a Cheerleader alumni DuVall, Melanie Lynskey, and Natasha Lyonne.

John Cooper, the festival's former director of programming, was also this year's Outfest Achievement Honoree. Cooper, who is now the festival director for Sundance, was recognized for his longtime championing of queer films and their writers. But it was Wilson Cruz who stole the show. The gay My So-Called Life actor gave an impassioned speech at the evening's onset. In his remarks, he challenged gay Hollywood to honor those who died at the recent Orlando shooting by telling the stories of queer people of color in film.

Browse photos from the moving event, courtesy of Outfest and photographers Connie Kurtew, Betsy Martinez, Owen Kolasinski, Kamille Ritualo, and Paige Golestan.