British Council to conduct LGBTQIA+ film screenings

The British Council in the Philippines, in cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community through showcasing five films to be screened on March 21-22 nationwide.

As the world's widest-reaching LGBTQIA+ digital campaign, the film program “Five Films of Freedom” aims to encourage solidarity among international pride communities through watching films promoting freedom and equal rights, including all parts of the world where homosexuality is criminalized, and all countries where the death penalty is in place.

“Five Films for Freedom promotes rarely heard LGBTQIA+ stories from around the world, and makes them accessible to a global audience, particularly for people living in cultures where they cannot live or love as they would like,” British Council Director of Film Briony anson said.

The selection of films to be screened for free nationwide are: All I Know by Obinna Robert Onyeri (Nigeria/USA); Butch Up! by Yu-jin Lee (South Korea); Eating Papaw on the Seashore by Rae Wiltshire and Nickose Layne (Guyana); Just Johnny by Terry Loane (UK – Northern Ireland); and Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou (UK/Cyprus).

The selected films chosen by the British Council explore sensitive yet relatable topics such as violence, security, love, and shifting identities.

“It’s a privilege to share the work of these hugely talented filmmakers with millions of people around the world, many of whom do not have the same level of access to LGBTQIA+ film, or the rights to express themselves freely. This year’s campaign remains as vital and urgent as ever,” said Michael Blythe, the British Film Institute (BFI) Flare's Senior Programmer.

BFI is the United Kingdom's lead organization for film and moving images, with BFI Flare being its longest running queer film event since 1986.