Out On Screen, the Vancouver-based organization dedicated to 2SLGBTQIA+ media arts and education, has announced the departure of executive director Brandon Yan, effective March 27.

The board plans to initiate a search for a new executive director to guide the organization into its next phase, according to a news release. The reason for Yan’s pending departure has not been provided as of press time.

Yan has played a crucial role in the organization since 2015, initially as program coordinator and later as education director, significantly expanding the organization’s Out In Schools program to reach more than 20,000 youth annually, said the release.

As executive director, a position he held since mid-2020, Yan navigated unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on staff capacity, financial sustainability and hybrid program delivery.

Under his leadership, Out In Schools collaborated with the B.C. Ministry of Education, implementing policies supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth across school districts. Last year, three emerging film programmers were selected to participate in the Out In Schools fellowship, each receiving $10,000 and the opportunity to be part of the curation of the 2023 Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF).

The organization also launched the Programming Disruptor Fellowship in 2023, which saw three emerging BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ film programmers receive mentorship and training as part of the VQFF programming team.

“Brandon’s leadership of Out On Screen through the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts in political discourse on 2SLGBTQIA+ expression and education, and our ever-changing community’s needs has been defined by his care for people, his warm leadership style, and his strategic focus,” said board chair Chris Hallamore in a statement. “We are grateful for his service to this organization and are excited to see where his career takes him next.”

Image courtesy of Out On Screen