David Farnor | On 23, Jan 2021

BFI Flare will return in virtual form this March, once again hosting a digital edition of the LGBTIQ+ festival.

The 12-day event will run from 17th to 28th March, presenting approximately 25 feature film screenings on BFI Player, with each film available for ticket holders to watch at any time during the 12 days of the festival, with a 4-hour window to start and finish the film. Additional elements include exclusive intros and Q&A’s with filmmaking talent and programmers and English-language features and shorts will be closed captioned and audio described. The programme of close to 35 short films from around the world will be available for free on BFI Player and available to watch throughout the Festival. Five Films For Freedom, in partnership with The British Council, will also return to BFI Flare, making five LGBTIQ+ themed short films available to watch worldwide for free on the British Council Arts’ YouTube channel and on BFI Player.

This year’s virtual edition will also retain its distinctive strands which offer audiences an entry point into exploring the programme: Hearts, Bodies and Minds. A selection of digital talks and events will complement the film programme and will include Screen Talks available for free on BFI YouTube and BFI Facebook as well as extended Q&A’s that will have a discursive element. BFI Flare Screen Talks offer indepth conversations with some of the world’s most influential LGBTIQ+ filmmakers and on-screen talent.

Senior Programmer, BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, Michael Blyth said: “With this digital version of BFI Flare, we are excited to expand our reach outside of London, bringing the best in contemporary queer cinema to audiences across the UK. Over this past year, the need to build and support LGBTIQ+ communities has felt more vital than ever, and this edition of the Festival is an opportunity to bring more people together than ever before.”

The full line-up will be announced on 23rd February, building on the success of BFI Flare At Home last year after the coronavirus pandemic led to a last-minute cancellation of the in-person event.

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