The world's widest-reaching digital celebration of LGBTIQ+ themed film returns from 18 - 29 March 2020. Five Films For Freedom is a global, online short film programme in support of LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer) rights.
While BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival has been cancelled, the digital-only plan to share five of those films through Five Films for Freedom will still go ahead. All five films will be available to watch through the British Council’s Arts YouTube channel from 18 – 29 March 2020, free of charge, anywhere in the world. We respect the difficult decision made by the BFI to cancel this year’s Flare Festival, as the health of our audiences, colleagues and partners is our priority during this rapidly-evolving situation.
Five Films for Freedom brings distinctive voices from around the globe to screens wherever you are. The line-up of films, which showcases work by emerging filmmakers from across the globe, has been selected from BFI Flare's programme. We invite audiences everywhere to watch the five films online in solidarity with LGBTIQ+ communities in places where freedom and equal rights are limited, and to spread the word using the hashtag #FiveFilmsForFreedom.
Self-expression, homophobia in rural communities, coming out as a teenager, and finding love later in life - this year's short films look at an intersection of LGBTIQ+ perspectives to explore love and acceptance.
About the 2020 films
134 (IRELAND)
Directed by Sarah-Jane Drummey
Jack prepares to take the stage at an Irish dancing competetion as family members come to terms with their feelings around their child's gender identity.
AFTER THAT PARTY (BRAZIL)
Directed by Caio Scot
"Why would he hide something like that from me?"
Leo struggles to approach his father after discovering a secret.
PXSSY PALACE (UK)
Directed by Laura Kirwan-Ashman
"It is more than clubbing. It's that sense of community where people actually care about each other."
Writer-director Laura Kirwan-Ashman welcomes you into the world of Pxssy Palace, a London based QTIPOC (queer trans intersex people of colour) collective and club night.
SOMETHING IN THE CLOSET (UK)
Directed by Nosa Eke
"Maddie what about you, which boy do you like?"
This short film tells the story of a queer teenager struggling with hersexuality as her desires manifest their way from the depths of her eerie closet into reality.
WHEN PRIDE CAME TO TOWN (NORWAY)
Directed by Julia Dahr and Julie Lunde Lillesæte
“Growing up gay in a small town wasn’t easy”
Bjørn-Tore left his rural hometown to escape the everyday homophobia he experienced growing up. Decades later he returns for Norway’s first-ever rural Pride celebration. Thrilled to see his neighbours hoisting a pride flag, he hopes that the turn out for Pride is higher than the numbers of anti-pride demonstrators from the local church group.
Join us on Twitter using #FiveFilmsForFreedom and help spread the word!
More about Five Films
A coordinated effort from our global network of over 100 countries will encourage people to watch the films in solidarity with LGBTIQ+ communities in places where freedom and equal rights are limited. The campaign will ask audiences to share the films using the hashtag #FiveFilmsForFreedom in recognition of the fact that love is a human right.
Since the project began, 14 million people have viewed the films in over 200 countries and principalities, including parts of the world where homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty.
Comments