BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, formerly known as the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (LLGFF), is the biggest LGBTIQ+ film festival in Europe. It takes place every spring in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, England. Organised and run by the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

, all BFI Flare screenings take place in the

BFI Southbank BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007, known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the United Kingdom, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Inst ...

. It began in 1986, as a season of gay and lesbian films at the

National Film Theatre BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007, known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the United Kingdom, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Ins ...

for two years, under the title "Gay's Own Pictures", curated by Peter Packer of the Tyneside Cinema. It was renamed the 'London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival' in 1988. Having been a two-week festival for many years, the festival was shortened to a week in 2011, then increased to 10 days in 2012. The events name change to BFI Flare occurred in 2014. On its 30th anniversary, screenings attendance at BFI Flare was up 9% and box-office results surpassed the previous, record-breaking year. Audiences at all events and screenings over the eleven-day festival totalled 25,623 in 2016. Additional programming under the BFI Flare tag is available at throughout the year. The 38th edition of BFI Flare will take place at the BFI Southbank in London from 13 to 24 March 2024. It will feature 33 world premieres across its programme, divided into three thematic strands called Hearts, Bodies, and Minds. The 39th edition of BFI Flare takes place at the BFI Southbank in London from 19 to 30 March 2025. BFI Flare’s 39th edition started with The Wedding Banquet, a modern reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 film. Directed by Andrew Ahn and co-written with James Schamus, this version brings the story into today’s world, following a queer couple as they navigate relationships, family expectations, and cultural traditions. The film blends humour with heartfelt moments, making it a fitting choice to open the festival.. Germanys leading queer outlet writes: ''While the remake of "The Wedding Banquet" was rather disappointing, the two short films "Here" and "Next Door", among others, were impressive.'' *

List of LGBT events The following is a calendar of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) events. This list includes pride parades as well as events ranging from sporting events to film festivals, including celebrations such as Christopher Street Day ...

List of LGBT film festivals An LGBTQ film festival or queer film festival is a specialized film festival that has an LGBTQ focus in its selection of films. LGBT film festivals often screen films that would struggle to find a mainstream audience and are often activist spaces ...

LGBT culture in London The LGBT rights in the United Kingdom, LGBT community in London is one of the largest within LGBT rights in Europe, Europe. LGBT culture of London, England, is centred on Old Compton Street in Soho. There are also LGBT pubs and restaurants acros ...

References

External links

Official website
Film festivals in London LGBTQ events in England LGBTQ film festivals in the United Kingdom LGBTQ culture in London British Film Institute Film festivals established in 1986 1986 establishments in England Annual events in London {{UK-festival-stub