PHOTOS: Outfest 2014's Opening Night Gala

A lifeguard greets arrivals at the Outfest Opening Night Gala, which was beach-themed.

The 32nd Outfest LGBT Film Festival, which runs through July 20, kicked off Thursday with its Opening Night Gala, a star-filled soiree and screening of the festival's inaugural film, Life Partners. Gillian Jacobs, a lead in the bra-mance comedy alongside Leighton Meester, walked the yellow carpet at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles with many of other stars of the films showcased in this year's festival.

Olympian Greg Louganis (Back on Board: Greg Louganis), Dan Bucatinsky (The Comeback), Guinevere Turner (Crazy Bitches), Alec Mapa (Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy), and Michael Adam Hamilton (The 10 Year Plan) were among the many luminaries in attendance at the celebration, which also honored producer James Schamus (Brokeback Mountain, The Kids Are All Right) with the 2014 Outfest Achievement Award for his contributions to the LGBT cinematic oeuvre.

"The scope and the depth of James's work as a writer, producer, and studio head, has had a tremendous impact on the LGBT community," noted Kirsten Schaffer, the executive director of Outfest (and Out100 honoree). "He has shepherded stories and storytellers who have defined the LGBT experience for three decades -- from the new queer cinema films of Tom Kalin and Todd Haynes to the boundary-pushing Pariah and from the historical insight of Milk to, of course, the iconic Brokeback Mountain."

After the screening and awards ceremony, which included an emotional introduction by Schamus's friend, actor Gary Oldman, guests proceeded to the backlot for a beach-themed bash under the stars.

[RELATED: The Advocate's Favorite Films of Outfest 2014]

>>>CLICK THROUGH to See Photos From the Event

Actress Gillian Jacobs at the Outfest premiere of her film Life Partners

Actors Madisen Beaty and Carter Smith (Jamie Marks Is Dead)

Actor and Outfest board member Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal, The Comeback)

Actress and filmmaker Marta Cunningham (Valentine Road) and husband James Frain (Born of War)

Newlyweds Greg Louganis (Back on Board: Greg Louganis) and Johnny Chaillot

Comedian and actor Alec Mapa (Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy)

Presenter Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and producer and Outfest honoree James Schamus (Brokeback Mountain, The Kids Are All Right)

Actress Candis Cayne (Crazy Bitches, Elementary)

Actor Michael Adam Hamilton (The 10 Year Plan)

Entertainer Jackie Beat and club promoter Mario Diaz (Club King)

Actress Mariah Quintana (Boulevard)

Producer and Outfest honoree James Schamus and his mother

The cast of Crazy Bitches with Outfest executive director Kirsten Schaffer (center)

Director Susanna Fogel (Life Partners)

Outfest director of programming KP Pepe, actress Gillian Jacobs (Life Partners), and Outfest artistic director Kim Yutani

Actors Blake McIver and Emerson Collins (Southern Baptist Sissies)

Guests mingle after the screening of Life Partners at the Outfest Opening Night Gala, held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Outfest board co-presidents Laura Ivey (left) and Joe Keenan (far right), actor Gary Oldman, and producer James Schamus

Actress Guinevere Turner (Crazy Bitches) and filmmaker Jane Clark

Outfest executive director Kirsten Schaffer and producer James Schamus