The BFI Flare Festival is an annual celebration of queer cinema, where the BFI player and London’s BFI Southbank screen a plethora of LGBTQIA+ contemporary film for the public to enjoy. 15 February marked the Programme Launch whereby the film list was released as well as the sweep of events.
This year’s Flare Festival promises films focusing on an array of queer experiences based on three themes: hearts, bodies, and minds. The heart categories focus on romance, love, and friendship; bodies on sex, identity, and transformation; minds on art, politics, and community. This assortment holds hope in representing the great scope of LGBTQIA+ experiences.
BFI Southbank will host these screenings from 16 March until the 27th. Amongst film debuts and free access to some short films, there will also be more interactive activities, including DJ nights, the Big Fat Gay Quiz, and plenty of Q&As. With an increased collection of content online on BFI player, those further afield can also experience and enjoy the Festival’s LGBTQIA+ film.
The Programme Launch detailed the different films to be focused on within each category from several of their contributors, all in the aim of inclusion. From the documentary Fanny: The Right To Rock focusing on the alt all-girl band (within the minds category), to Dakan, a West African film centring on two teen boys from very different backgrounds (within the hearts category).
Finally, with a partnership with the British Council, the BFI Flare presents Films For Freedom. Five short films will be available for free to view internationally, as a contribution to the their ethos — “love is a human right”. What better way to explore the core messages of the festival than by expressing the plethora of intersectional experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community via the “Small but perfectly formed” shorts.
Words by Annabel Smith
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