39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival to be presented from 19 to 30 March 2025

Today we announce the dates for the 2025 edition of the UK’s largest queer film event, BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. The festival, which screens the best in contemporary LGBTQIA+ cinema from around the globe, in addition to a rich selection of events and archive titles, will run from 19 to 30 March 2025 at BFI Southbank. 

This year’s festival sees the 11th year of #FiveFilmsForFreedom in partnership with the British Council. This landmark initiative presents five films for free to audiences globally and invites everyone everywhere to show solidarity with LGBTQIA+ communities in countries where freedom and equal rights are limited. The 2024 film selection spanned from the Philippines, India, Spain, USA and the UK and the digital campaign attracted over 3 million views.  

Since its launch in 2015, Five Films for Freedom films have been viewed by 26 million people, in over 200 countries and principalities. The Five Films for Freedom shorts will be available to watch for free UK-wide on BFI Player.  

Submissions are open for the 2025 edition of BFI Flare: 

• Final deadline dates for receipt of online submission forms and film screeners: 
• UK and international short films (25 minutes or less) – Friday 6 December 2024, 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) 
• UK and international short films (26 to 50 minutes) – Friday 6 December 2024, 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) 
• UK and international feature-length films (more than 51 minutes) – Friday 6 December 2024, 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Further details will be revealed in the coming months, with the full programme being announced on Tuesday 18 February 2025. Press accreditation will open on 19 February – details of how to apply will be available soon.