BFI Flare 2026 Unveils Complete Festival Lineup for Milestone 40th Edition
The BFI Flare LGBTQ film festival has officially announced its full program for 2026, marking the event's significant 40th anniversary celebration. Running from March 18 to 29 at BFI Southbank in London, this dedicated UK festival showcases world premieres of cutting-edge LGBTQ cinema alongside talks, workshops, and special events designed for queer communities and allies.
World Premieres and Featured Films
This year's festival opens with Jennifer Kroot's social justice documentary Hunky Jesus, set in San Francisco, while the closing night features Sandulela Asanda's romantic drama Black Burns Fast. Notable world premieres include:
- Madfabulous: Celyn Jones' period drama starring Rupert Everett as Henry Cyril Paget, the dancing Marquess of Anglesey
- Washed Up: Isabel Daley's film about a struggling Cornish artist who falls in love with a mythical selkie
- Pillion: A returning festival hit following a shy young biker's relationship with an older dominant man, starring Alexander Starsgaard and Harry Melling
International Stories and UK Focus
The international selection includes Teishiro Minami's documentary Beyond The Fire: The Life of Japan's First Pride Parade Pioneer, Ethan Fuirst's hiking trip drama Can't Go Over It, and Julian Lautenbacher's To Dance Is To Resist, following Ukrainian dancers seeking artistic freedom after Russia's invasion. The festival also presents Castration Movie Chapter iii. Junior Ghosts – Premorphic Frist, A Fragmentary Passage, billed as a "trans epic."
Special Events and Programming
A dedicated Heartstopper Forever event traces the evolution of Alice Oseman's beloved Netflix series from books through two successful seasons to the forthcoming film. The festival will also celebrate the best queer films from the past year and feature talks from acclaimed filmmaker Russell T Davies, creator of It's A Sin and Queer As Folk.
The programming team, including Grace Barber-Plentie, Diana Cipriano, Zorian Clayton, Jaye Hudson, Darren Jones, and Wema Mumma, stated: "As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we are delighted to present a programme full of cinematic gems and compelling events. For four decades, BFI Flare has championed bold storytelling and created a vital space for connection and visibility."
Festival Statistics and Ticket Information
BFI Flare 2026 presents 31 world premieres across features and shorts, with 65 features and 62 shorts from 47 countries. Tickets go on sale for BFI Members on February 24, with general sales beginning February 26 through whatson.bfi.org.uk. The festival continues its mission of providing authentic representation and visibility for LGBTQ communities through unapologetic storytelling and cinematic excellence.
