The full programme for Londonās LGBTQI film festival has been revealed
BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS
***UPDATE 16 MARCH 2020: The 2020 edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival (18-29Ā March 2020)Ā has been cancelled. Read more here.
BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival is back for another round of the bestĀ queer films with a globe-spanning programme. Itās the biggest LGBTQI film festival in the UK and now that the full programme has been announced, we can confirm it is packed with amazing features and shorts.
This is BFI Flareās 34th edition and it is one of the worldās most significant and long-standing LGBTQI film events. BFI Flare will present over 50 features, 85 shorts and a wide range of special events, guest appearances and club nights. The festival will be divided into three thematic strands: hearts, bodies and minds, which all tackle various issues as well as celebrating our LGBTQI community on screen.
Taking place 18 – 29 March at BFI Southbank, you absolutely donāt want to miss out. Thereās something for everyone, whether youāre looking for queer romance, horror, documentaries or short films, to be entertained, provoked or uplifted – hereās whatās on offer for BFI Flare 2020.
Read all about the opening and closing night films Cicada and Summerland here, and of course, the UK Premiere of Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen, is taking place as their centrepiece film.
The #BFIFlare 2020 programme has been revealed! šhttps://t.co/yMTw5PsXRY pic.twitter.com/P37bBvOYTf
ā BFI Flare (@BFIFlare) February 18, 2020
Some DIVA highlights of the main programme are:
Justine
A young woman struggles with her demons in this powerful rumination on how the past can shape the present.
Lingua Franca
A deftly woven tale of love and inequality for an undocumented Filipino transwoman living under the radar in New York.
Pride & Protest
Opening with the anti-LGBTQI lessons protests in Birmingham, the modern face of activism is the focus of this timely and necessary documentary.
We Are The Radical Monarchs
Activism is alive and well in this documentary portrait of a group of women who champion the importance of community, and this joyous film is full of hope and inspiration to see the next generation of fierce confident young women more than ready to take on the world.
Ellie & Abbie (& Ellieās Dead Aunt)
A delightful romcom where Ellieās dead aunt has the perfect dating advice for her. But will she listen to it?
Once again, BFI Flare will be in partnership with the British Council for #FiveFilmsForFreedom, which makes five LGBTQI themed short films available for the world to watch online for free over the duration of the festival.
BFI Flare also includes a wide range of events, talks and debates, including illuminating and insightful histories of representation onscreen exploring intersex, queer disability and lesbian culture as well as a focus on bodily autonomy and consent, the legendary festival quiz, photography exhibition and a family-focused fun day.
The Festival fun continues with their popular free entry BFI Flare Club Nights at BFI Southbankās BFI Bar & Kitchen featuring an eclectic line-up of DJās. Honestly, what more could you want? BFI Flare has everything!
Tickets go on sale via bfi.org.uk/flare on 27 February.
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