UPDATE: The highly anticipated BFI Flare, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, is set to launch on March 18, 2024, marking its 40th anniversary with a vibrant lineup of 65 feature films and 62 shorts. This year’s festival promises an array of premieres, documentaries, and engaging events, captivating audiences at venues across London and beyond.
Festival-goers can expect a celebration packed with exciting parties, DJ nights, and insightful screen talks. A special exhibition, 40 Years of BFI Flare, will also take place at Queer Britain, offering a retrospective look at the festival’s rich history. “We’ll be looking back at Flare’s history and we’re ready to celebrate,” says BFI Flare programmer Grace Barber-Plentie.
In an exclusive preview, Barber-Plentie shared her top picks from the festival’s diverse lineup, ensuring attendees don’t miss out on these standout films.
Don’t Come Out, a captivating Dominican horror film centered on a sinister entity targeting queer individuals, kicks off the festival with screenings on March 19 at 5:50 PM and March 20 at 8:45 PM. The film pays homage to classic horror with a politically charged narrative.
Another highlight is The Serpent’s Skin, an enchanting film by Australian director Alice Maio MacKay, screening on March 21 at 6:10 PM and March 22 at 6:30 PM. This witchy, vampire-themed film captures the essence of ’90s nostalgia and showcases the talents of emerging trans femme filmmakers.
Not to be missed is the world premiere of Washed Up, a magical realism film directed by Isabel Daly, chronicling a quirky Cornish coming-of-age romance involving a girl and a Selkie, screening on March 25 at 8:50 PM and March 28 at 12:45 PM.
For a more experimental narrative, Bearcave dives deep into the lives of two best friends from a small Greek village, revealing their complex relationship as one prepares to leave for the city. This poignant film screens on March 24 at 5:50 PM and March 25 at 8:20 PM.
Documentaries also take center stage. Out Laws provides a powerful look at three queer individuals from Sri Lanka, Barbados, and Namibia, now living in the UK due to discrimination in their home countries. This film screens on March 23 at 5:50 PM and March 28 at 10:30 AM, offering a blend of history and celebration.
Another impactful documentary, What Will I Become?, tackles the critical issue of trans youth suicide in the US, featuring intimate home footage of two young trans males. It screens on March 24 at 8:45 PM and March 25 at 6:25 PM.
From Ukraine, To Dance is to Resist captures the resilience of a couple of dancers amidst conflict, showcasing their determination to live openly despite societal challenges. Catch it on March 26 at 8:30 PM and March 28 at 6:15 PM.
The festival also features the sequel to Nigeria’s first lesbian film, Ìfé: (The Sequel), which explores the rekindling of a romantic relationship between its main characters. Screenings are set for March 23 at 8:40 PM and March 24 at 3:00 PM.
Additionally, a restored version of the groundbreaking queer classic Pink Narcissus will delight fans, screening on March 19 at 3:20 PM.
Finally, for those seeking a unique period drama, Madfabulous tells the true story of the Marquess of Anglesey, screened on March 25 at 6:00 PM and March 26 at 3:05 PM.
BFI Flare runs from March 18 to March 29, 2024. Tickets are available now, and last-minute tickets to sold-out screenings are often released daily. Check the BFI Flare website after 11 AM during the festival for updates or join the standby queue at BFI Southbank 30 minutes before shows. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this landmark celebration of LGBTQ+ cinema!
