VIDEO: Interview with executive director of Lebanon LGBTQ rights group

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterOutfest Los Angeles is going virtual this year and they have unveiled their stacked lineup for the 11-day festival which kicks off August 20.The LGBTQ film fest fest will include over 160 films with 35 world premieres, 10 North American premieres and 4 U.S. premieres to Los Angeles for 2020.

LOS ANGELES -- Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and former editor of the Italian news weekly L’Espresso, died Friday, the association said. He was 68.

Naman Ramachandran London and New York-headquartered superindie production group Argonon has expanded its U.S. operations with the launch of Argonon USA, gearing up Los Angeles-based West Coast facilities, and making several key appointments.Lindsay Schwartz joins as chief creative officer for Argonon Group-backed Leopard USA.

Justin Kroll Senior Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Konwiser Brothers Media has landed the rights to the documentary The World’s Most Dangerous Radio Station, which tells the story of the first Hip-Hop radio station, 1580 KDAY, and its founder and legendary Music Director/Assistant Program Director, Greg Mack.The doc recounts the dawn of Hip Hop when an obscure Los Angeles AM radio station and its maverick programmer was instrumental in the early careers of Jay Z, Dr.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorExpressing cautious optimism about the success of efforts to control the coronavirus, L.A.

Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute, died Saturday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a heart attack. He was 77.

Nicholas White Accurate multicultural representation in Hollywood starts crucially with hiring communities of color to make and star in films, “Suicide Squad” and “Bright” director David Ayer said Thursday at the ArcLight drive-in premiere of his new Los Angeles-based crime drama, “The Tax Collector.”“Hire them. Hire them for jobs,” Ayer said when asked about increasing Latino representation in Hollywood productions.

Keith “Keefa” Parker has been named vp of A&R at Atlantic Records, based out of Los Angeles.Parker is following in the footsteps of his father, former Death Row A&R executive Keita Roc, who worked with the late Nipsey Hussle early in the rapper’s career.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn Wednesday, Los Angeles Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported 3,266 new coronavirus cases in the region for a total of 164,870 cases. Ferrer said the 7 day average of daily new infections has more than doubled in the past month.

Dave McNary Film ReporterMichael Franklin, who used to serve as the top executive at the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America West, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 96.Franklin served at executive director for the WGA West for two decades before becoming the first national executive director of the DGA in 1978.

David Robb Labor EditorMichael Franklin, who served as the top executive officer of both the DGA and the WGA West, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 96.An attorney, Franklin served as executive director of the WGA West — where he spent two decades — before being was hired by the DGA as its national executive director in 1978.

Brielle Biermann is enjoying some time in Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic and recently picked up a trendy new eating regimen.The Don’t Be Tardy star, 23, stopped by Beverly Hills eatery Il Pastaio with pal Tyson French on Monday, July 20, and treated herself to a classic Italian meal.

Natalie Portman and a group of predominantly female founders were awarded the rights to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to Los Angeles in 2022, Variety’s sister site Sportico reports.Portman and tech venture capitalist Kara Nortman, media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian, who led the investment with his fund, Initialized Capital, are sidelining the traditional ownership model.

Roger Stone, a political operative whose 40-month prison sentence was commuted this month by President Donald Trump, his longtime friend, used the racial slur "Negro" on air while verbally sparring with a Los Angeles-based Black radio host.

Ashley Benson and G-Eazy are getting food together.