Rentals
BFI Flare presents
The UK’s premier LGBTQ+ festival is now as accessible as it is inclusive – offering the latest films and coverage direct from the event itself.
Bold, diverse, exhilarating and unapologetic – the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival earned its reputation for adventurous programming over 28 years. Newly rebranded as BFI Flare, the festival now brings you a BFI Player collection including features and shorts from current and previous festivals, alongside coverage of the latest talks and events to bring you closer to the experience, wherever you are.
The HandmaidenThe Handmaiden
Crime2016146 minsDirector: Park Chan-wook
Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Stoker) channels Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, to create a sumptuous twisty psychological thriller full of erotic intrigue.
Real BoyReal Boy
Documentary201672 minsDirector: Shaleece Haas
A 19-year-old trans man navigates family, friendships, and the challenges of young adulthood.
Tom of FinlandTom of Finland
Biopic2017116 minsDirector: Dome Karukoski
The story of a gay icon is brought to life in Dome Karukoski’s handsome biopic of Touko Laaksonen, the artist whose homoerotic drawings gave visual expression to a growing gay culture.
MoonlightMoonlight
Drama2016111 minsDirector: Barry Jenkins
Winner of the 2017 Oscar for Best Picture (eventually!), Barry Jenkins’ intoxicating drama follows the furtive life of a gay black boy through 80s Miami.
TaekwondoTaekwondo
Drama2016108 minsDirector: Marco Berger and Martin Farina
A gorgeously photographed, teasingly libidinous exercise in latent homoeroticism set over a long hot summer in Buenos Aires.
AkronAkron
Romance201588 minsDirector: Brian O'Donnell and Sasha King
Two young men meet on the sports field and fall in love. But there’s a family secret which resurfaces and threatens to tear them apart.
A Date For Mad MaryA Date For Mad Mary
201683 minsDirector: Darren Thornton
Dry, sarcastic, maddening Mary must find a date for her best friend’s wedding in this Irish feel-good hit for misfits everywhere.
Boys on Film 16: PossessionBoys on Film 16: Possession
Anthology2017125 minsDirector: Kai Stänicke, Christopher Manning, Blake Mawson, Charlie Francis, Anthony Schatteman, Jake Graf, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Oliver Mason and Björn Elgerd
Golden boys, teenage lust, self-conscious dolls, chance encounters and a vengeful creature - in the latest gay shorts compilation from Peccadillo Pictures.
Girls on Film 2: Before DawnGirls on Film 2: Before Dawn
Anthology2017111 minsDirector: Lorelei Pepi, Anne Claire Jaulin, Kai Stänicke, Hope Dickson Leach, Max Disgrace, Rob Savage, Nanna Kristin Magnusdottir, Lud Mônaco, Kate Lefoe and Jeremy Hersh
An electric collection of 11 award-winning, lesbian and feminist short films exploring fantasies, dreams, desires, love and transgression.
The PassThe Pass
Drama201686 minsDirector: Ben A. Williams
Russell Tovey stars as a Premier League footballer who shares a fumbled pass (of the sexual kind) with a teammate (Arinzé Kene), changing everything - both on and off the pitch.
I Am MichaelI Am Michael
Drama102 minsDirector: Justin Kelly
James Franco stars in this provocative film about Michael Glatze, a pioneering gay rights activist who later denounced his homosexuality.
Who's Gonna Love Me Now?Who's Gonna Love Me Now?
Documentary201786 minsDirector: Tomer Heymann and Barak Heymann
A heartfelt exploration of one man’s struggle to reconcile with his Israeli family, while finding a new ‘family’ in London Gay Men’s Chorus.
La NocheLa Noche
Drama2016141 minsDirector: Edgardo Castro
A gritty journey through the sexual underbelly of Buenos Aires, with graphic depictions of the highs and lows in one man’s quest for intimacy.
The Chambermaid LynnThe Chambermaid Lynn
201490 minsDirector: Ingo Haeb
An obsessive-compulsive hotel cleaner (Vicky Krieps) who harbours a fetishistic fascination with her hotel's guests meets an enigmatic dominatrix who changes her world.
Floating SkyscrapersFloating Skyscrapers
Drama201389 minsDirector: Tomasz Wasilewski
Hailed as ‘Poland’s first LGBT film’, Tomasz Wasilewski’s striking drama follows a champion swimmer whose gay relationship causes ripples.
I Promise You AnarchyI Promise You Anarchy
201586 minsDirector: Julio Hernández Cordón
A pair of teenage skateboarders find themselves drawn into a murky criminal underworld in this distinctive thriller.
Hidden AwayHidden Away
Drama201492 minsDirector: Mikel Rueda
A chance encounter between a Moroccan boy and a Spanish teen alters the course of their lives.
Tiger OrangeTiger Orange
Drama201476 minsDirector: Wade Gasque
Big city morality and sex culture clash with small town values in this sweet tale of two gay brothers.
DepartureDeparture
Drama2016108 minsDirector: Andrew Steggall
Andrew Steggall’s deft and delicate drama about a teenage dreamer who falls for the rough beauty of a local boy while staying in France.
BlushBlush
Drama201585 minsDirector: Michal Vinik
An assured and authentic lesbian coming-of-age drama, boasting a mesmerising and heartfelt lead performance.
Théo and HugoThéo and Hugo
Romance201697 minsDirector: Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau
A brief encounter at a naked sex club in Paris seems to be going well for Theo and Hugo, but a sudden realisation changes everything.
The Girl KingThe Girl King
Historical drama2015106 minsDirector: Mika Kaurismäki
Lush retelling of the story of lesbian monarch Queen Christina of Sweden, combining period drama with a deeply personal love story.
Remembering the ManRemembering the Man
Documentary201583 minsDirector: Nickolas Bird and Eleanor Sharpe
Telling the true story of Timothy Conigrave and John Caleo, whose AIDS-afflicted relationship became the basis of bestselling gay memoir, Holding the Man.
Holding the ManHolding the Man
Biopic2015128 minsDirector: Neil Armfield
A sweepingly romantic adaptation of Timothy Conigrave’s best-selling memoir, an impassioned love letter to his partner, John Caleo.
I Am Not He... SheI Am Not He... She
Drama2015108 minsDirector: B.S. Lingadevaru
Lingadevaru’s unforgettable drama, based on an empowering true story of a young boy who travels to Bangalore to follow his dream of becoming a woman.
Amen IslandAmen Island
Thriller201091 minsDirector: Mark Harriott and Mike Matthews
When an adventurous trio set off for the secluded island of Amen, they're blissfully unaware of the horrors that lie in wait, in this indie bisexual riff on The Wicker Man.
Uncle DavidUncle David
Comedy200995 minsDirector: Gary Reich, Mike Nicholls and David Hoyle
Celebrated cabaret artist David Hoyle’s debut film is a typically acerbic drama about the disturbing relationship between an uncle and his nephew.
TangerineTangerine
Comedy201588 minsDirector: Sean Baker
A big-hearted film shot on a small phone, this LA tale of two transgender working girls out for vengeance fizzes with wild energy.
CarolCarol
Drama2015119 minsDirector: Todd Haynes
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara illuminate Todd Haynes’ intoxicating adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s beloved novel.
ChemsexChemsex
Documentary201580 minsDirector: William Fairman and Max Gogarty
A hard-hitting and often graphic documentary about the 'chemsex' sub-scene in London’s gay community.
Mapplethorpe: Look at the PicturesMapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures
Documentary2016109 minsDirector: Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
An unflinching and sometimes graphic account of the life, art and legacy of the legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Like You Mean ItLike You Mean It
Drama201690 minsDirector: Philipp Karner
Writer-director Philipp Garner also stars in this refreshing gay drama, a portrait of a couple trying to make it work in the film world of Los Angeles.
Nasty BabyNasty Baby
Drama2015101 minsDirector: Sebastián Silva
Kristen Wiig plays a woman trying to start a family with a gay couple, in this biting black comedy set among a diverse Brooklyn community.
Dressed as a GirlDressed as a Girl
Documentary2015101 minsDirector: Colin Rothbart
An in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at London’s finest drag performers. Warning: extreme use of make-up and glitter.
FreeheldFreeheld
Drama2016103 minsDirector: Peter Sollett
Julianne Moore plays the cancer-stricken police officer who must fight on a second front to secure the transfer of her pension to her partner (Ellen Page).
It's All So QuietIt's All So Quiet
Drama201391 minsDirector: Nanouk Leopold
Reflective calm and ambient beauty suffuse this tale of silent sexuality, as a lonely farmer’s quiet existence is interrupted by desire.
Everlasting LoveEverlasting Love
Drama201469 minsDirector: Marçal Forés
A thrilling and disturbing exploration of the perils of illicit sexual encounters, beginning when a teacher initiates a tryst with one of his pupils.
FulboyFulboy
Documentary201581 minsDirector: Martin Farina
This deeply intimate portrait of an Argentine football club is a forensic, fetishistic expose of soccer’s clandestine dressing-room culture.
Stories of Our LivesStories of Our Lives
Documentary201461 minsDirector: Jim Chuchu
Five stories of forbidden desire, courageously collected to tell the hidden truths of LGBT life in Kenya.
52 Tuesdays52 Tuesdays
Drama2013110 minsDirector: Sophie Hyde
A mother undergoing a gender transition meets his estranged daughter every Tuesday, changing gradually each time they meet. An intelligent indie hit about modern identity.
Peter de Rome: Grandfather of Gay PornPeter de Rome: Grandfather of Gay Porn
Documentary201496 minsDirector: Ethan Reid
The journey of a true English eccentric, from his 1960s experiments with gay erotica to a reappraisal 40 years later as an LGBT pioneer.
Futuro BeachFuturo Beach
Thriller2014107 minsDirector: Karim Aïnouz
A tragic event brings together a Brazilian lifeguard and a German tourist in Karim Aïnouz’s hypnotic melodrama.
Love Is StrangeLove Is Strange
Drama201495 minsDirector: Ira Sachs
Ira Sachs’s refined Manhattan-set drama sees Alfred Molina’s Ben and John Lithgow’s George in the latter days of a tender, loving 39-year relationship.
Appropriate BehaviourAppropriate Behaviour
Comedy201586 minsDirector: Desiree Akhavan
Desiree Akhavan directs and stars in this witty, razor-sharp and fearless comedy following the sexual misadventures of a bisexual Brooklynite.
Of Girls and HorsesOf Girls and Horses
Drama201483 minsDirector: Monika Treut
A troubled teen finds love during a summer spent at a horse ranch, in this captivating lesbian drama from cult director Monika Treut.
Something Must BreakSomething Must Break
Drama201485 minsDirector: Ester Martin Bergsmark
A striking 21st-century love story about the passionate relationship between a transgendered teen and a straight man.
Behind the CandelabraBehind the Candelabra
Biopic2013119 minsDirector: Steven Soderbergh
Michael Douglas dazzles as the flamboyant virtuoso pianist Liberace in this fascinating biopic by Steven Soderbergh.
Dior and IDior and I
Documentary201490 minsDirector: Frederic Tcheng
An astonishing behind-the-scenes documentary following the famed fashion house’s new artistic director as he prepares his first collection.
You and the NightYou and the Night
Drama201389 minsDirector: Yann Gonzalez
Eric Cantona and Beatrice Dalle star in an outrageous erotic fever dream about a couple who invite four diverse guests to their midnight orgy.
I Love You Phillip MorrisI Love You Phillip Morris
Comedy200994 minsDirector: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra
Jim Carrey’s irrepressible performance drives the incredible true story of a con man who repeatedly escapes from prison to be with his lover.
Breakfast on Pluto Breakfast on Pluto
Drama2006129 minsDirector: Neil Jordan
Cillian Murphy is extraordinary as a transgender foundling searching for her lost mother, in Neil Jordan’s runaway romp.
The Way He LooksThe Way He Looks
Drama201492 minsDirector: Daniel Ribeiro
A blind student’s relationship with his best friend is tested when he falls for the new boy in school, in Daniel Ribeiro’s beautifully realised romance.
Reaching for the MoonReaching for the Moon
Biopic2013114 minsDirector: Bruno Barreto
Beautifully told true story of the love affair between American poet Elizabeth Bishop and Brazilian architect Lola de Macedo Soares.
TestTest
Drama201389 minsDirector: Chris Mason Johnson
A wonderfully evocative period drama exploring the telling details of gay life in San Francisco in 1985 with a fantastically upbeat 80s soundtrack.
The Duke of BurgundyThe Duke of Burgundy
Drama2015104 minsDirector: Peter Strickland
Peter Strickland’s visually and aurally intoxicating tale of sadomasochistic power-play is a daringly erotic sensory feast.
G.B.F.G.B.F.
Comedy201393 minsDirector: Darren Stein
Three high-school girls wage war to win the latest must-have social accessory - a Gay Best Friend.
Kiss MeKiss Me
Romance2011107 minsDirector: Alexandre-Therese Keining
Mia is engaged to marry a man, but finds herself falling for Frida, who happens to be her new stepmother's daughter.
Eastern BoysEastern Boys
Drama2012124 minsDirector: Robin Campillo
A gay pick-up turns into a dangerous game of betrayal and violence in this slyly subversive and compelling thriller.
LiltingLilting
Drama201486 minsDirector: Hong Khaou
Ben Whishaw stars in an intimate portrait of two strangers brought together by the common language of grief.
The New GirlfriendThe New Girlfriend
Melodrama2014108 minsDirector: François Ozon
Ruth Rendell provides the source novel for this delicious tale of deception and identity, from the master of mischievous melodrama, François Ozon.
Blue is the Warmest ColourBlue is the Warmest Colour
Romance2013180 minsDirector: Abdel Kechiche
The epic, passionate and strikingly naturalistic Palme d'Or-winning romance.
MargaritaMargarita
Drama201290 minsDirector: Laurie Colbert and Dominique Cardona
When a cash-strapped yuppie couple fire their teenage daughter’s nanny they set off a chain of unexpected events.
Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf?Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf?
Comedy201379 minsDirector: Anna Margarita Albelo
In order to impress an girl, a struggling filmmaker agrees to write an all-female retelling of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Stranger by the LakeStranger by the Lake
Drama2013100 minsDirector: Alain Guiraudie
A young man witnesses a violent crime at a gay cruising ground and becomes obsessed with the killer in Alain Guiraudie’s acclaimed mystery-thriller.
The Passion of MichelangeloThe Passion of Michelangelo
Drama2013100 minsDirector: Esteban Larraín
In Pinochet's Chile, a 14-year-old boy becomes a media sensation after claiming to have witnessed visions of the Virgin Mary.
Yellow FeverYellow Fever
Comedy199827 minsDirector: Raymond Yeung
A gay British-Chinese man refuses to date Chinese men. But then Jai Ming moves in next door.
SpeechlessSpeechless
Drama201293 minsDirector: Simon Chung
A mysterious, exotic and riveting drama about a nameless man discovered naked on a riverbank, who forms a bond with the hospital assistant who can communicate with him.
BeautyBeauty
Drama2011105 minsDirector: Oliver Hermanus
Oliver Hermanus' unblinking look at homophobia, hypocrisy and repressed desire in today's South Africa is tough, troubling and impressive
The ComedianThe Comedian
Drama201379 minsDirector: Tom Shkolnik
Touching drama about a thirtysomething comedian looking for happiness.
Tom at the FarmTom at the Farm
Drama2013103 minsDirector: Xavier Dolan-Tadros
Dark psychosexual thriller from prodigious Canadian director Xavier Dolan, following a young man who finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game of deception.
Eyes Wide OpenEyes Wide Open
Drama200993 minsDirector: Haim Tabakman
A married butcher in Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox Jewish quarter falls for a beautiful young man in this outstanding Israeli feature.
Keep the Lights onKeep the Lights on
Drama2012102 minsDirector: Ira Sachs
A filmmaker escapes the pain of a break-up through casual sex and meets a closeted lawyer in this deeply personal work from Ira Sachs.
Greek PeteGreek Pete
Drama200970 minsDirector: Andrew Haigh
Acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (Weekend, 45 Years) made his feature debut with this bold, sexually explicit drama-documentary about London rent boys.
WeekendWeekend
Drama201197 minsDirector: Andrew Haigh
Andrew Haigh's internationally acclaimed tale of a brief encounter between two gay men.
White Bird in a BlizzardWhite Bird in a Blizzard
Drama201491 minsDirector: Gregg Araki
Shailene Woodley and Eva Green star in Gregg Araki’s lyrical and impressionistic adaptation of Laura Kasischke’s novel.