ImageOut

What ImageOut does

ImageOut is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural organization headquartered at 274 N Goodman St, Suite A203, Rochester, New York, that presents and supports LGBTQ+ cinema, visual arts, and literary programming. The organization was founded in 1992 as The Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival and has since grown into a year-round arts body anchored by its annual Fall Film Festival (held each October since 1993, with the 31st edition in 2023) and the First Cut Spring Film Festival launched in April 2024. Its portfolio includes the ImageOutExtra off-festival screening series, ImageOutArt visual arts exhibitions and the ImageOutWrite literary journal, ImageOutThere and ImageOut Shorts programs, ImageOutReach community engagement, ImageRaisers fundraisers, recurring BIPOC, Next Generation, and TGNCNBI+ film series, an LGBTQIA+ Archival Film Series presented with Shoulders To Stand On, and recurring ImageOut Night at the Theatre collaborations with OFC Creations Theatre Center.

Distribution is primarily in-person at partner venues across Monroe County and Western/Central New York — including The Little Theatre, Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum, the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, and outdoor locations such as the Spiegelgarden during Fringe — supplemented by Eventive-powered ticketing and select virtual screenings, with film submissions received through FilmFreeway. Programming is supported by a multi-channel marketing mix spanning Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, and a Constant Contact email newsletter. There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying stack is composed of off-the-shelf nonprofit tools (FilmFreeway, Eventive, Constant Contact, Shopify).

The revenue model is a six-stream nonprofit combination: ticket sales at $5-$30 per screening (pay-as-you-go), tiered annual membership dues (subscription), corporate sponsorships and underwriting, institutional grants (NYSCA, Monroe County, Farash Foundation, HRC Western & Central NY, LGBT+ Giving Circle), individual donations including planned and legacy giving, and merchandise through a Shopify storefront. Customer segments comprise the LGBTQ+ community (primary), film enthusiasts (primary), and community organizations and businesses seeking LGBTQ+ market reach and CSR alignment (secondary). Operationally, the organization is staffed by 1-10 employees, governed by a Board of Directors, and supported by a substantial volunteer base; it is privately funded rather than equity-funded.

Name

ImageOut

Legal name

The Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival, Inc.

Website

https://imageout.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ImageOut is a Rochester, New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that presents and supports LGBTQ+ arts through its annual Fall and Spring film festivals, ImageOutArt visual-arts program, ImageOutWrite literary journal, off-festival screenings, and community events serving the Monroe County and Western/Central New York region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Programming (LGBTQ+ Film Festival)

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Photography & Videography Arts Programs (EDAMAAAC)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ film festival
• Arts and culture
• Community film programming
• Cultural event series
• Independent cinema events

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual film screenings and festival passes. Ticketed events include standard admission prices and special event tickets.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership program offering exclusive benefits including members-only events and receptions. Members receive special access and recognition.
3. Sponsorships and Underwriting: Corporate sponsorships and underwriting support from businesses and organizations. Includes logo placement, recognition at events, and association with the LGBTQ+ arts community.
4. Grants: Funding from grantmaking organizations including foundations and government entities such as NYSCA and Monroe County.
5. Donations: General donations from individuals supporting LGBTQ+ arts and culture. Includes planned and legacy giving options.
6. Merchandise Sales: Sales through the ImageOut merch store featuring branded items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ImageOut is a Rochester, New York-based nonprofit arts organization that produces and presents LGBTQ+ film festivals, film screenings, visual art exhibitions, and literary programming. Its primary offerings are an annual Fall Film Festival (held each October) and the First Cut Spring Film Festival, supplemented by year-round off-festival screenings, ImageOutArt exhibitions, the ImageOutWrite literary journal, and special community events such as ImageRaisers fundraisers and ImageOutExtra screenings tied to ROC Pride Week and the Rochester Fringe Festival.

Product overview

ImageOut presents and supports LGBTQ+ arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, creative works, and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue, and build community. The organization operates a two-festival annual cycle centered around the Fall Film Festival and First Cut Spring Film Festival, supplemented by ImageOutExtra off-festival screenings throughout the year. Beyond cinema, ImageOut offers the ImageOutArt visual arts program with exhibitions and a literary journal, film shorts programs, special fundraiser events called ImageRaisers, and annual festival awards. The organization also publishes festival guides and maintains an active newsletter to engage the community. All offerings serve the mission of presenting LGBTQ+ arts and cultural experiences in the Rochester, New York area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Film Festival AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational alliance of film festivals providing networking, resources, and collective advocacy for the film festival community. ImageOut is a member organization.
• FilmFreewaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary film submission platform enabling filmmakers worldwide to submit their work to ImageOut festivals. FilmFreeway is the industry standard for film festival submissions.
• Iris PrizecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational LGBTQ+ film prize and festival based in Wales. ImageOut is a partner festival, promoting the award and supporting filmmakers.
• ROC Pride CollectivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal coalition organizing Rochester Pride celebrations. ImageOut participates in Pride Week programming with special screenings and events.
• Rochester Fringe FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual performing arts festival. ImageOut presents films during the festival including outdoor Pedestrian Drive-In screenings and special Fringe programming.
• Shoulders To Stand OncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQIA+ archival preservation initiative. Partnership for the 2025 LGBTQIA+ Archival Film Series presenting classic LGBTQ+ films at the Central Library of Rochester.
• George Eastman MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Seeing & Being Seen Art Exhibition featuring LGBTQ+ visual artists. Venue host for Dryden Theatre screenings.
• Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the Queering Democracy Exhibition exploring LGBTQ+ perspectives on democratic participation and civic engagement.
• OFC Creations Theatre CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre venue partner for ImageOut Night at the Theatre events, including KINKY BOOTS and other theatrical programming collaborations.
• HRC Western & Central NYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHuman Rights Campaign regional chapter. Joint networking events and collaborative programming such as the Spring Open House partnership.
• The Little TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary screening venue for many ImageOut events including ROC Pride Week film screenings and community partner screenings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ImageOutTheRochesterLGBTFilmFestival
• Facebookfacebook.com/ImageOut
• Instagraminstagram.com/imageoutroc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imageout

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ImageOut