Outfest Sees Layoffs & Exec Director Damien Navarro Taking Leave Of Absence Amid Staffers’ Unionization Effort
29.09.2023 - 00:31
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has learned that Outfest executive director Damien S. Navarro is taking a 45-day leave of absence, with Zackery Alexander Stephens stepping in to lead the long-running Los Angeles festival and LGBTQIA+ film organization.
All of this comes amid a unionization effort and news that some staffers who have been pushing to unionize have been laid off. Staffers were told earlier this year that Navarro would be leaving Outfest at an undisclosed date, but the unionization push seems to have hastened his departure.
Deadline reached out to Outfest, which provided two statements. In the second, the fest confirmed: “The Outfest Board of Directors has appointed Zackery Alexzander Stephens as Acting Executive Director. Stephens has stepped away from their role on the Board to support staff navigating through this transition. The Board has initiated measures to support organizational solvency and help realign the organization.”
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It added: “Like other nonprofit organizations, Outfest has been severely impacted by the financial climate of the media and entertainment media and entertainment industry. We are working to rebuild a higher-quality organization and workplace. Leadership is in the process of scaling the organization sustainably in order to ensure that it is able to carry out its mission for the next generation of filmmakers.”
The Outfest Board Leadership said: “It is with great sadness that we have to make layoffs, but these are in no way connected to the staff’s desire to unionize. Staff was notified that the organization had planned for a reduction of the workforce prior to any communication of unionizing. Outfest is decidedly pro-union. The work our
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