Biography

A trusted voice in the LGBT community for over 20 years, Christopher Racster has made an international impact as an advocate and filmmaker, employing media to help shape public perception and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Relating to his own experience finding affirmation and acceptance through queer stories on film, he determined early on to make depictions of the LGBTQ experience his sole focus. His first film, "April's Shower," premiered at Outfest Los Angeles, beginning a decade-long relationship with the organization, one that was critical to his on-going success as a filmmaker.

Following "April's Shower," Christopher worked with Peter Paige on his directorial debut "Say Uncle" before creating Mythgarden, a production company producing LGBTQ content for film and television with partners Chad Allen (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) and Robert Gant (Queer as Folk). Together they produced "Save Me," a film that took a hard look at the Christian "ex-gay" movement. "Save Me" debuted at Sundance and went on to be nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. More films followed, including "Spork," a film about a young intersex girl; offering a long-overdue affirming depiction of the intersex experience, "Spork" won the Audience Award following its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival and went on to be nominated for the Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival.

With a long track record of well-received queer films and a strong voice as an LGBTQ advocate, Christopher was invited to become a Patron of the Iris Prize Festival in Wales alongside Lord Glendonbrook (Michael Bishop) and Matthew Rhys (Brothers and Sisters, The Americans) and a Trustee of the Iris Prize Foundation, helping to launch the careers of filmmakers worldwide.

In 2011, Christopher joined the Outfest staff, promoted in turn to Deputy Director. In 2015, when the current Executive Director announced her departure from Outfest, Christopher was promoted to Interim Executive Director and, after an exhaustive international executive search, finally named Executive Director of Outfest in October 2015, charged with growing the programs and stature of the organization worldwide.

His favorite film is Merchant Ivory's screen version of the E.M. Forster novel "Maurice." He specifically credits it with his decision to come out and, it is rumored, blames it for a string of British boyfriends.



01/10/19
- IMDb mini biography by: Outfest

One of the co-founders of a production company called Mythgarden, which he formed with actors Robert Gant (Queer as Folk (2000)) and Chad Allen (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)).