BFI Flare At Home: Digital LGBTIQ+ Film Festival

Amidst the development of the coronavirus outbreak, events across London have been postponed or cancelled, some due to take place this very week. Film releases are being delayed, and cinemagoers are switching to digital avenues.

The BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival is one of the cancelled events – usually an annual celebration of cinema from the LGBTIQ+ which had to be cancelled in its physical form. But the fast-thinking team found a lateral solution: an online archive bursting with brilliant films still to discover.

The films, both old and new, are available to watch on BFI Player, the institute's own streaming service. Over 230 films will be available to watch, resurfacing titles from past editions of the festival, and queer classics from around the world.

Beyond this? To mimic a festival-like experience bursting with events spanning much more than just movie-watching, there will be live remote Q&As with filmmakers online, with fresh daily recommendations. Plus, the closing night party, usually one of the year's hottest tickets, will be able to come to your living room this year with a carefully curated playlist.

In terms of filmmakers to expect across the archives? Andrew Haigh, Céline Sciamma, Derek Jarman, Desiree Akhavan, Rainer Werner Fassbinder and many more.

The Culture Whisper pick of the festival is undoubtedly And Then We Danced, Levan Akin's gorgeous gay romance set against the backdrop of traditional Georgian dance. We gave the film four stars, saying: "Dance in film can be a wondrous spectacle to behold – better than any rushing bullet or speeding car – and Akin really delivers."

For more information on BFI Flare At Home, head to the BFI's website here.