BFI Flare

BFI Flare is London’s queer film festival, and it’s also the biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival in Europe. Here’s a bit of history of the festival: its first edition was in 1986 at the National Film Theatre, where it was known with the name of Gay’s Own Pictures. It then changed its name to London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (LLGFF) in 1988, and it was eventually renamed BFI Flare in 2014, to account for a more diverse and inclusive programme. 

Held at the BFI Southbank, the festival takes place every year in March, where audiences are able to watch a selection of queer movies for two weeks. BFI Flare 2024 will take place on March 13-24, 2024.

Just like the BFI London Film Festival, the festival is divided into thematic strands: hearts focuses on movies about romance and friendship, minds is for more reflective watches, and bodies is for films about identity. There are also Special Presentations for the biggest events, such as the Opening and Closing Night Galas, and a selection of Screen Talks with filmmakers and cast. There are also a “best of fest” section with acclaimed movies from other festivals, and a “best of year” strand dedicated to the best queer releases from the previous year. The movies showcased at BFI Flare include feature films, documentaries, and short films. 

Many indie gems and popular hits have been screened at BFI Flare in the past, from lesser known releases like Rūrangi and Jump, Darling to widely known films like All of Us Strangers, Kokomo City, TRAMPS!, and many more.

Loud and Clear Reviews covers BFI Flare every year. This page is where you’ll find our film reviews, interviews, recommendations of what to watch at London’s LGBTQIA+ film festival, and more. Discover the best queer cinema has to offer and follow us on our socials for live tweets, reactions, and updates!