BFI Flare: What's on our watch-list?
There's plenty to look forward to at London's queer film festival.
Flare is the annual queer film festival, presented in London by the BFI - the British Film Institute.
2025 is the 39th year of the Flare festival - it's taking place from 19-30 March.
The programme includes 130 films from 41 different countries - 34 films will be making their world premiere at the festival.
Most of the action centres around the BFI's Southbank home - as well as the audience buzz around the films, there's panel discussions, workshops, and parties that make this a London queer hot-spot.
Let's take a look at the films that we're breaking out the popcorn for.
The Wedding Banquet
Opening the festival is The Wedding Banquet. Directed by Andrew Ahn, this is a reimagining of Ang Lee's 1993 beloved film.
In this updated version, Andrew Ahn centres the story on Lee (Kelly Marie Tran) and Angela (Lily Gladstone) who are struggling to fund their next round of IVF treatment. Also in the mix are Min (Han Gi-chan) and Chris (Bowen Yang) who are plagued by visa issues and commitment phobia. When Chris rejects Min’s offer of a green card-securing marriage proposal, he suggests getting hitched to Angela instead, offering to fund their IVF in exchange. A comedy of errors ensues.
The film had its premiere at the recent Sundance film and was well-received.
A Night Like This
A film by Liam Calvert, Alexander Lincoln and Jack Brett Anderson star in the story of an unlikely romance.
Struggling actor Lukas (Anderson) and successful businessman Oliver (Lincoln) spend a night together in London.
I’m Your Venus
If you've seen the ballroom documentary Paris Is Burning, you'll remember the story of Venus Xtravaganza - one of the most engaging people featured in the documentary who was murdered before the film was released.
In this film, members of the House of Xtravaganza team up with the biological family of Venus on a search for justice - campaigning to re-open the cold case investigation into her death.
Drive Back Home
Michael Clowater directs this film, which is set in Canada in the 1970s.
Perley (Alan Cumming) is arrested in Toronto for cruising in a park. His brother is forced to drive hundreds of miles to bail him out.
On their journey back to rural New Brunswick, the two brothers dissect their troubled relationship and upbringing.
The story is reportedly based on the true story of Clowater’s grandfather Ernie and great-uncle Hedley, and highlights a tactic used by police in Canada at the time - arresting gay men and forcing their family to provide them, outing them in the process.
High Tide
This film from Marco Calvani is a portrayal of an undocumented immigrant searching for a sense of self.
This film stars Marco Pigossi as Brazilian immigrant Lourenço - wandering the streets of Provincetown in search of purpose and his place in the queer community.
The film also stars James Bland.
Night Stage
Closing the festival will be Night Stage.
Billed as a steamy political thriller, this film from Marcio Reolon and Filipe Matzembacher revolves around a politician and actor who are both on the rise but both at risk of ruining their careers and reputations as they pursue their kink for public sex.
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