London’s hottest queer film festival is back, and you don’t want to miss it! BFI Flare returns to Southbank from 19th to 30th March for its 39th edition, serving up the very best in LGBTQIA+ cinema from around the world. Expect cutting-edge cinema, fresh perspectives and all the feels – whether you’re after a swoon-worthy romance, a hard-hitting doc, or an indie gem, BFI Flare is for you.
Haven’t got tickets yet? Don’t stress – in our list below, some tickets are still available, plus extra tickets drop on 13th March at 12:00, so set that reminder. In the meantime, we’ve picked a few for you to check out in this year’s lineup, but be sure to head to the BFI Website for the full list.
Full Length Films
Power Alley
Power Alley is a bold and gripping debut that pulses with the energy of queer sisterhood and resistance. Directed by Lillah Halla, this Brazilian drama follows Sofia, a rising volleyball star whose future is thrown into turmoil when she seeks an abortion ahead of a career-changing championship. As a fundamentalist group targets her, she turns to her fiercely loyal, gender-fluid team for strength, proving that solidarity can be the most powerful weapon of all. Charged with urgency, defiance, and heart, Power Alley is a must-watch for anyone who believes in the power of community.
Drip Like Coffee
Drip Like Coffee is a tender, intoxicating love story that simmers with longing and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a Brooklyn café, the film follows Kali, a barista stuck in a rut—juggling an uninspiring relationship and a boss who won’t take her seriously. But when Mel, an enigmatic artist, joins the team, Kali’s world is stirred in ways she never expected. Sensual, poetic, and beautifully shot, Drip Like Coffee is a celebration of Black queer love and the electrifying moment when desire awakens something deeper.
Lakeview
Lakeview is a hilarious and heartwarming dive into the chaos of queer friendships and messy adult lives. When Darcy, a bisexual woman, starts a new chapter after divorcing her husband, her friends gather at her parents’ lakeside house to support her. But as old flames, new dramas, and personal milestones take over, the weekend quickly becomes more about everyone else’s baggage than Darcy’s big moment. Full of laughter, honesty, and the complexities of queer love, Lakeview is a joyous celebration of the ups and downs of friendship, love, and self-discovery.
Shorts
Shoobs
Shoobs takes us back to 2005, where Lisa finds herself at a house party, caught in the whirlwind of teenage crushes and complicated emotions. With the help of a mysterious party companion, she navigates the ups and downs of young love and the chaos of figuring it all out. This 12-minute short is a nostalgic, charming look at the messy yet exciting nature of first crushes, with a dose of humor and heart.
Solers United
Solers United is a lively and hilarious comedy that dives into the world of a queer womxn’s football team in East London. Packed with crushes, clashes, and some seriously intense matches, this film serves up all the drama of team dynamics, love triangles, and the highs and lows of the beautiful game. Whether it’s on or off the field, Solers United is an energetic, heartwarming celebration of community, sport, and queer friendship. You can keep up to date with this one via their Instagram: @solersunited.
Bisexual Crisis
Bisexual Crisis!!! is a playful and hilarious short about two best friends, both named Charlie—one a bisexual woman, the other a gay man. When an almost-kiss sparks unexpected tension between them, everything they thought they knew about their friendship is thrown into question. With sharp wit and a touch of awkwardness, this 11-minute film explores the messy and complicated dynamics of queer friendships and attraction, leaving us laughing and thinking about where lines blur.
Gender Reveal
Gender Reveal is a hilarious and thought-provoking short that flips the script on the traditional gender reveal party. A trans throuple arrives at what might just be the most straight-laced, heteronormative celebration you’ve ever seen, and their presence turns everything upside down. Full of sharp humor and insightful commentary, this 13-minute film challenges expectations and invites us to rethink what it means to celebrate identity in a world that loves labels.
Documentaries
Assembly
Assembly is an immersive and powerful documentary that follows interdisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome as he embarks on an ambitious journey to create a groundbreaking exhibition. Invited to stage a show at New York’s Park Avenue Armory, Newsome uses the space—steeped in white military history—as a canvas to celebrate and honor Black queer culture. With the help of collaborators from around the globe and Being, an AI ‘digital griot,’ Assembly explores the intersection of art, technology, and community in a vibrant and profound tribute to Black queer identities.
Will & Harper
Now, you will have seen this advertised all across your socials. Will & Harper is a heartwarming and hilarious road-trip doc that’s as touching as it is entertaining. When Harper Steele, a longtime SNL writer, came out as trans in 2022, her close friend Will Ferrell decided to hit the road with her—embarking on a cross-country adventure filled with laughs, candid conversations, and surprise appearances from comedy icons. As they navigate the open road, Steele opens up about her transition, while Ferrell proves that true friendship means showing up, listening, and celebrating each other for who we really are. Expect big laughs, bigger heart, and a journey you won’t forget.
To Our Friends
To Our Friends is a heartfelt and nostalgic coming-of-age film that captures that delicate summer between adolescence and adulthood. Set in Madrid, it follows Sara, who spends her days with her best friend Pedro, dreaming of the futures that could take them in very different directions. As high school ends, Sara joins a theatre club, where she falls for a girl and begins to navigate the complexities of love, identity, and social class. This film blends documentary and fiction to offer a unique and poignant take on the coming-of-age genre, capturing the tensions and joys of growing up and discovering who you are.
Trans Memoria
Trans Memoria is a deeply personal and reflective documentary that blends memory, grief, and identity. Artist Victoria Verseau takes us on a journey back to Thailand, where she underwent gender-affirming surgery in 2012, retracing the steps of a close friend, Meril, who has since passed away. The film weaves together Verseau’s candid fears and reflections from that transformative time, alongside meditative observations on life’s fleeting nature. Through airports, hospitals, and quiet moments, Trans Memoria beautifully explores the complexities of grief, selfhood, and the profound search for meaning.
To get your tickets, head over to the official BFI Flare website and explore the full lineup because we have just scratched the surface with our above selection.
See you there,
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
