BFI Flare has unveiled its full 2026 programme as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
“Host venue BFI Southbank will be buzzing with packed screenings, special events, talks panels and DJ nights throughout the festival,” a press release said.
BFI Flare is divided into four thematic programme strands: HEARTS, BODIES and MINDS, alongside a new strand for the 40th edition celebrating the history of LGBTQIA+ films, TREASURES.
This year the festival presents 31 world premieres (across features and shorts) with 65 features and 62 shorts from 47 countries.
As previously announced, BFI Flare opens with the world premiere of Hunky Jesus, Jennifer Kroot’s riotous documentary which follows unique social justice movement The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence while interweaving a wildly popular annual Easter Sunday tradition in San Francisco.
In addition to the premiere, Sister Roma, the iconic and long-serving member of the San Francisco chapter of the Sisters, will join for a talk – Divine Dissidence: A Sistory of the Sisters – alongside members from the UK chapters exploring the history and impact of their work.
The festival’s Closing Night film is the UK premiere of Sandulela Asanda’s exuberant romance Black Burns Fast.
Following the adorkable and studious Luthando, who is on track for a normal academic year at the prestigious South African boarding school she attends on scholarship, the arrival of a new girl in her class ignites Luthando’s suppressed desires which threaten her relationships and everything she thought she knew about herself.
The BFI Flare 2026 Programming team are Grace Barber-Plentie, Diana Cipriano, Zorian Clayton, Jaye Hudson, Darren Jones and Wema Mumma.
BFI Flare Programmers said: “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.
“We look forward to welcoming talent from the UK and around the world to the BFI Southbank, to share their films with our audiences.
“At a time when visibility and authentic representation remain as vital as ever, we are proud to continue providing a platform where our communities can see themselves reflected on screen unapologetically, truthfully, and with pride.”
Russell T Davies will also join the festival to discuss his acclaimed career and upcoming Channel 4 show Tip Toe.
As a television writer and producer known for prominent LGBTQIA+ representation, Russell introduced openly queer characters and storylines to Doctor Who, bringing LGBTQIA+ experiences into mainstream television with unprecedented visibility and nuance.
He created Queer as Folk (1999), Cucumber (2015) and its sister series Banana (2015), and It’s a Sin (2021), which explored gay lives, relationships and the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Exciting world premieres presented at the festival include Madfabulous, Celyn Jones’ quirky period drama based on the life of Henry Cyril Paget, the dancing Marquess of Anglesey, starring Callum Scott Howells, Ruby Stokes and Rupert Everett.
Directed by Hiroaki Matsuoka, Beyond the Fire: The Life of Japan’s First Pride Parade Pioneer dives deep into Japan’s queer history, highlighting the incredible life of Teishiro Minami, who pioneered the country’s first Pride march.
Two queer best friends are forced to confront the gradual dissolution of their friendship when they go on an annual hiking trip in Ethan Fuirst’s Can’t Go Over It.
In a bold new chapter of Louise Weard’s trans epic, Castration Movie Chapter III. Junior Ghosts – Premorphic Drift; A Fragmentary Passage, a heterosexual couple are upended by an abrupt transition.
A T4T couple move in together and are forced to face their differences in indie romantic drama Daniel Ribeiro’s touching tale I Am Going to Miss You, featuring an all-trans cast.
Pamela Adie’s highly anticipated sequel to Nigeria’s first lesbian film, Ìfé: (The Sequel), reunites former lovers ífé and Adaora years after their separation.
Enter the lewd, rude and completely silly world of erotic dancer Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White in Lady Champagne from D’Arcy Drollinger.
In an offbeat comedy by Nick Butler, Lunar Sway, a bi guy in a desert town receives a surprise visit from his con-artist birth mother, with chaos ensuing.
Lexi Powner and James Lewis’ strident film Out Laws chronicles the battle of one gay Namibian man to stand up for the rights of same-sex couples.
In To Dance Is to Resist, two Ukrainian dancers seek life and artistic freedom following Russia’s invasion of their country by Julian Lautenbacher, while Isabel Daly’s charming Cornwall-set drama Washed Up finds a struggling artist falling in love with a mythical selkie.
The full programme is available on the BFI Flare website.
