BFI Flare LGBTQIA+ Film Festival

This long-running annual film festival is a celebration of queer filmmaking from around the world.

Returning to the BFI Southbank for the 40th year, the festival will be screening the very best in contemporary LGBTQIA+ cinema, alongside a rich programme of archive title screenings and lively events including Q&As, panel discussions, workshops and parties.

BFI Flare is divided into four thematic programme strands: HEARTS, BODIES and MINDS alongside a new strand for the 40th edition celebrating the history of LGBTQIA+ films, TREASURES. The film festival presents 31 World Premieres (across features and shorts) with 65 features and 62 shorts from 47 countries on this year's programme.

Among the many film highlights this year look out for, BEYOND THE FIRE: THE LIFE OF JAPAN’S FIRST PRIDE PARADE PIONEER which dives deep into Japan’s queer history, highlighting the incredible life of Teishiro Minami who pioneered the country’s first Pride march, Paloma Schneideman’s tender, unflinching portrait of queer adolescence BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, and an awe-inspiring 4K restoration of the experimental queer masterpiece from 1971 PINK NARCISSUS.

BFI Flare events programme

Alongside the film screenings, BFI Flare will host a variety of events, talks, parties and exhibitions. Highlights include:

Community Stalls and Badge Cafe
On Sunday 22 March the BFI will host a variety of LGBTQI+ community groups, charities and non-profits who will showcase their initiatives and services. There's also the opportunity to Ben Walters crafty Badge Cafe where you can swing by and join in the fun, putting old books and magazines to use.

BFI Flare talks

There's a brilliant array of talks and conversations to join in during the festival, exploring a wide range of topics, ranging from the depiction of the leather scene on film to a conversation with acclaimed Black lesbian filmmaker Cheryl Dunye.

Treat Yourself Well: Queerwell Workshops and PlayShops

Presented by Queerwell, the national LGBTQ+ mental health charity, the BFI hosts a range of workshops and playshops on mental wellbeing, shared histories, community and belonging. 
Look out for Queer Hope and Joy! (Sun 22 Mar at 12:30pm) a free creative PlayShop inspired by the AIDS quilt with participants invited to create their own bunting panels, and Queer & Neordivergent: Intersectional Identity Mapping (Sun 22 Mar at 4pm), a gentle and reflective guided visual mapping session exploring identity through a queer neurodivergent lens.

BFI Flare DJ Nights

Free themed DJ Nights will be kicking off in the BFI Bar from 9pm to 1am. Join in the anniversary celebrations at the Opening Night (Wed 18 Mar) and Closing Night (Sat 28 Mar) parties, and look out for themed parties including east London's FLINTA favourites Fèmmme Fraîche (Fri 20 Mar), Club Kali (Sat 21 Mar) a queer Bollywood night with DJ Ritu MBE, Back to '86 (Thu 26 Mar) a non-stop 80s classic night with DJ Mike Menace, and Sexistential (Sat 27 Mar), an electro-pop night inspired by Robyn's new album and led by DJ Joe Egg.