Barefoot Wine & Bubbly Premieres Its First-Ever Short Documentary “One Stride: Chosen Family” at Outfest
Barefoot, whose mission is to bring people together and celebrate community through wine, premiered its short documentary, “One Stride: Chosen Family,” this weekend at Outfest, the preeminent LGBTQ film festival in the world.
Directed by Outfest alumnus Stephen Winter, produced by Winter and Ned Stresen-Reuter and presented by Barefoot, the documentary celebrates the stories of three sets of LGBTQ friends and families to shine a light on how the community supports each other through a “chosen family.”
Watch the full documentary short:
Told through the lens of best friends who, through their special bond, become each other’s families, Winter and Barefoot invite audiences into the lives of a late 82-year-old LGBTQ activist, two transgender artists and two wives, all sharing their unique stories and speaking to the importance of finding and celebrating families. Each story shows examples of friendship, love and support between people of all ages, genders and backgrounds.
The documentary features actress and singer Mj Rodriguez, who has appeared in a number of projects including the Off-Broadway revival of “Rent” and the current hit drama series “Pose,” which features the most inclusive transgender cast in television history. It also features late LGBTQ rights activist Richard “Dick” Leitsch, who led the historic 1966 “Sip-In” at a bar in Manhattan’s West Village to secure the right of gay patrons to be served in bars. Mr. Leitsch passed away on June 22, 2018, just a few weeks after filming the project.
“Barefoot has stood for the same values since its inception: inclusiveness, authenticity, and celebrating community,” said Anna Bell, Senior Director of Marketing at Barefoot. “Through ‘One Stride: Chosen Family’ and the pairs featured in the documentary, we bring the screen a way to honor those values forged through friendship. Sadly, we lost Dick Leitsch on June 22, and we are proud to dedicate this film to Dick and the legacy he left behind.”
Barefoot has been a longstanding ally to the LGBTQ community, making its first donation to an LGBTQ charity in 1988. The brand sponsors over 200 LGBTQ events around the world each year.
Earlier this year, in celebration of Pride Month, Barefoot launched its Barefoot Bestie Label program benefiting Outfest to continue building community by connecting diverse populations to discover, discuss, and celebrate stories of LGBTQ lives.
The Barefoot Bestie Label program allows wine lovers everywhere to customize Barefoot wine labels for them and their best friends to enjoy. Through September 8, anyone looking to celebrate their best friend or “sole mate” can choose from three varietals – Pinot Noir, Rosé, or Pinot Grigio – to customize their own special rainbow labels through the “Barefoot Bestie Labels” website found at barefootbestielabel.com.
