FILM FESTIVALS IN FOCUS 2025

BFI FLARE 

LONDON LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL

MARCH 19-30, 2025 LONDON, UK

AFTER THE SNOWMELT (2024) 

Taiwan-Japan｜dir. Yi-Shan Lo

The filmmaker investigates the death of a close friend, delivering a moving testament to their life and legacy amongst their chosen family.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (2024) Taiwan

dir. Deborah Devyn Chuang

Reality and dreamscape become increasingly blurred in an uncomfortable, Lynchian and violent Freudian loop for teenage Lolo and her mother.

IF I DIE, IT’LL BE OF JOY (2024) France

dir. Alexis Taillant

Following the lives of three elderly activists, this moving documentary gives a voice to members of the queer community who are often invisible.

POWER ALLEY (2023) Brazil｜dir. Lillah Halla

Queer sisterhood and collective power lie at the heart of this arresting Brazilian debut, in which a promising volleyball player faces an unwanted pregnancy.

THE ASTRONAUT LOVERS (2024) Argentina-Spain dir. Marco Berger

Argentinian filmmaker Marco Berger explores contemporary masculinity, sexuality and sexual curiosity in this comedy-drama about two men who enter into a fauxmance.

FULL LINEUP HERE

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Image © STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (2024) 

5 GLOBAL QUEER CINEMA GEMS AT 

SOUTHEAST ASIA QUEER CULTURAL FESTIVAL / SEAQCF 2.0 

DEC 16, 2024 - MAR 30, 2025

CAMBODIA / VIETNAM / INDONESIA / THAILAND / THE PHILIPPINES

CALABAI WILL ALWAYS DANCE (2023) Indonesia

dir. Kerukunan Waria Bissu Sulawesi Selatan 

A documentary about the journey of a transgender woman (calabai) as she traces the legacy of Pajoge Angkong, a folk dance performed traditionally by calabai.

WE (2024) Thailand ｜dir. Oat Montien 

Shot on a hot summer day in Bangkok, this visual collage - inspired by a poem by Sammy Kim - explores polyamorous desire.

THE SAPPHO PROJECT: FRAGMENT 147 (2024) The Philippines

dir. Sari Katharyn

A collaborative project of queer women from around the world, this animated short evokes one of the most famous lyrical poems of ancient Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos: Fragment 147.

OUT (2023) Malaysia｜dir. Justice Khor 

Expelled from Malaysia, the first person to receive asylum in the UK on the grounds of LGBTQ+ identity recounts a journey marked by ousting, disownment, and a quest for acceptance.

THE VISIBLE (2024)  Brunei｜dir. Atikah Zainidi 

Three women share queer realities in Brunei where same-sex relationships are a criminal offense.

WATCH all films HERE

EXPLORE OTHER PROGRAMS at SEAQCF 2.0 

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 Image © CALABAI WILL ALWAYS DANCE (2024)

TEDDY AWARD, BERLINALE

FEB 13-23, 2025

BERLIN, GERMANY

STARS (2025) UK, Germany | dir. STARS Collective

An Afrofuturist space odyssey about the Nommo - extra-terrestrial Afro-hermaphrodite anthro-amphibian migrants. Forum Expanded

DREAMERS dir. (2025) UK｜dir. Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor

While battling the labyrinthine UK asylum system, a Nigerian migrant finds a kindred spirit whose support and affection offers a glimpse of hope for a new life. Panorama

HOUSES (2025) Germany, Israel｜dir. Veronica Nicole Tetelbaum

Haunted by memories of transient homes, a non-binary teen revisits the houses they used to live in before they moved to Israel from the Soviet Union. A soulful meditation on home as a house and a body. Forum

QUEERPANORAMA (2025) USA｜dir. Jun Li

A gay man impersonates men he has had sex with and adopts a new persona for each new hook-up. By pretending to be someone else, he can he be truly himself. Panorama

SILENT SPARKS (2024) Taiwan | dir. Ping Chu

Freshly released from prison, a young man plunges back into the world of gangsters and his much-awaited reunion with his former cellmate also falls short of his expectations. Can they start a new life and hold on to each other? Panorama

FULL LINEUP HERE

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Image © STARS (2025)

MARDI GRAS FILM FESTIVAL

FEB 13-27 (cinemas) FEB 28-MAR 10 (online) 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

AMMA'S PRIDE (2024) India｜dir. Shiva Krish

A trans woman’s fight to claim her right to marry her partner in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India.​​ QueerDOC Shorts

THE PARADISE OF THORNS (2024) Thailand｜dir. Boss Kuno

When a young man’s partner suddenly dies and he finds himself unprotected by laws that do not recognize same sex relationships, he decides to fight for their love and their cherished durian orchard. Features

BLOOD LIKE WATER (2023) Palestine｜dir. Dima Hamdan

The turmoil of a Palestinian family as the closeted son’s secret affair drags them into a trap where they face impossible choices. Gay Shorts

THREE KILOMETRES TO THE END OF THE WORLD (2024) Romania

dir. Emanuel Pârvu

Winner of the Queer Palm at Cannes, this feature is the touching story of a gay teen navigating the aftermath of a homophobic assault in a conservative community in Romania. Features

DRAGFOX (2024) UK｜dir. Lisa Ott

A moving stop-motion animation about a child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Ian McKellen) who learn to embrace their differences. Trans & Gender Diverse Shorts

FULL LINEUP HERE

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Image © Amma's Pride (2024) dir. Shiva Krish

5 GLOBAL QUEER CINEMA GEMS AT SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

JAN 23-FEB 2, 2025 

PARK CITY & SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, USA

INKWO FOR WHEN THE STARVING RETURN (2024) Canada

dir. Amanda Strong

A stop-motion animation about Dove, a gender-shifting warrior who uses  Indigenous medicine (Inkwo) to protect their community from terrifying creatures. / Animated Shorts

SABAR BONDA  (2025) India / UK / Canada

dir. Rohan Parashuram Kanawade

When a young man returns to his rural hometown to mourn his father, he reconnects with a childhood friend and as their  romance blossoms, they bond over grief, tradition, and societal pressures. World Cinema Dramatic Competition

STRANGER, BROTHER. (2024) Australia｜dir. Annelise Hickey

When a self-absorbed, queer millennial finds his estranged little brother on his doorstep one morning, he must face the family he’s been running away from. / Short Film Program 4

THE WEDDING BANQUET  (2024) USA｜dir. Andrew Ahn

In this remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 film of the same title, a gay man makes a deal with his lesbian friend: a green-card marriage in exchange for IVF treatments. Things get complicated when the grandmother surprises them with a Korean wedding banquet. / Premieres

GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES (2025) Cambodia / France

dir. Chheangkea

A dead grandmother sneaks back from the afterlife when she learns that her queer grandson is about to get engaged to a woman. / Short Film Program 2

Explore MORE QUEER CINEMA at Sundance

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 Image © Inkwo For When The Starving Return