AID Atlanta, Out on Film Present Dreamgirls Benefit Screening

AID Atlanta and Out on Film will host a one-night-only outdoor benefit screening of the Oscar-winning musical Dreamgirls this Saturday.

The event will be held at Atlanta’s Springs Cinema and Taphouse, and will mark the 15th anniversary of the film, an adaptation of the Broadway hit about the ups and downs of a 1960s girl group. Jennifer Hudson won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Effie White. It’s also the 40th anniversary of the Broadway show.

“AID Atlanta is excited to be partnering with Out on Film on its first fundraising event since the COVID pandemic began,” Nicole Roebuck, executive director of AID Atlanta, said in a press release. “As Atlanta’s oldest HIV/AIDS service organization, we are proud to have continued caring for our members and staff without service interruption during COVID.”

“At a time when we all have been largely inside because of the pandemic, it will be nice to enjoy an open air, socially distant event such as this,” added Jim Farmer, festival director for Out on Film. “I look forward to seeing patrons that we have not seen in a while and singing along to the movie’s iconic musical numbers.”

The event will begin at approximately 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 per car, with multiple passengers, and can be purchased here; they will be available at the venue when the gates open at 7:30 p.m. as well. All money raised will go to support each organization. The evening will also feature a Dreamgirls costume contest and a raffle.

AID Atlanta is one of the largest AIDS service organizations in the nation, with a 39-year history of serving people with or affected by HIV or AIDS. AID Atlanta provides comprehensive medical, pharmaceutical, testing, treatment, and support services for thousands of Georgians each year. In 2021, AID Atlanta fundraising events will be an in-person and virtual mix, kicked off by this partnership with Out on Film, Atlanta Pride, and Atlanta Wholesale Furniture.

Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ film festival, is now in its 34th season and last year was designated as an Oscar-qualifying film festival. So far this year Out on Film has collaborated with ZAMI Nobla, the National Association of Black Lesbians on Aging, on the inaugural Women Sweet on Women Film Festival and conducted several virtual “In Conversation” events with filmmakers. Out on Film’s 2021 festival, expected to be a hybrid event, is scheduled for September 23–October 3.

Out on Film conducted an interview with Dreamgirls director Bill Condon leading up to the screening. Watch below.