Daily Inspiration: Meet Jim Farmer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Farmer.

Hi Jim, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. I have divided my time since college working as a writer and a film festival director. When I moved to Atlanta in 1996, I held different jobs in public relations and communications. In 2002 I worked for Landmark Theatres as the Marketing Manager at the Midtown Art Cinema in Atlanta. In 2008, I became the Festival Director of Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ Film Festival. This is my 18th year overseeing the programming for the organization. which is now one of the major LGBTQ film festivals in the world.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting to now has not been a smooth road at all. Like many people, I struggled after college determining what I wanted to do – and what I could do. I held some horrible jobs over the years including one here in the area where I was fired shortly after I came out, despite a strong work review. It scarred me, but I grew from it and decided from then on I would only work at jobs/positions that I was passionate about.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I handle programming and serve as the Festival Director for Out On Film. In that role, I go through each year’s submissions and also curate our slate of 150+ films at our fall film festival. I am very passionate about the job and want to make what we offer is diverse and inclusive and representative of the Atlanta LGBTQ community. I love programming small films that might fall through the cracks at other festivals.

I am also a long-time writer. I am an editor at large for ArtsATL. I have written for Southern Voice (later re-named Georgia Voice) for more than 25 years and have won several national writing awards.

I am proud of the stories I get to share as part of Out On Film and the stories I get to write and share.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Passion. Hard work. A thick skin. A sense of humor

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.outonfilm.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmerjim44/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.farmer.5
• Twitter: @JimFarmer3