Tickets for BFI Flare 2025 go on sale to the general public on 27 February 2025. This year’s festival thematic strands are Galas and Special Presentations, Hearts, Bodies, Minds and Best Of Year.
BFI Flare Opening Night Gala: The Wedding Banquet
Andrew Ahn’s film offers a loving and humorous reinterpretation of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic, delving into new models of queer family dynamics and the pressures of culture. The story follows Lee and Angela, a couple grappling with the financial burdens of IVF after several unsuccessful attempts. Angela’s best friend Chris and his boyfriend Min live in their guesthouse, and they suggest a green-card marriage to provide them with financial support. However, their arrangement becomes complicated when Min’s grandmother unexpectedly arrives to plan their wedding banquet.
BFI Flare Closing Night Gala: Ato Noturno (Night Stage)
Forbidden desires lead two public figures into peril in this stylish psychosexual thriller. An emerging theatre actor and a high-profile politician, both drawn to alfresco encounters, embark on a risky affair that jeopardizes their ambitions.
Special Presentation: Dreams in Nightmares
In this vibrant and humorous queer Black road movie, best friends Z, Lauren, and Tasha set off on a spontaneous cross-country journey to find their missing friend, Kel. As they face their own challenges, they not only aim to locate Kel but may also discover more about themselves along the way.
BFI Flare 2025 highlights include:
Viêt and Nam
A poignant exploration of love and grief portrays two miners in Vietnam as they navigate the shadow of national trauma and contemplate an uncertain future.
Drip Like Coffee
In this charming romantic drama, two Brooklyn baristas, Kali and Mel, ignite a love affair. Stuck in a rut with a needy boyfriend and a dismissive boss, Kali’s passions blossom when artistic Mel becomes her co-worker. Drip Like Coffee beautifully captures the love between two queer Black women.
After the Snowmelt
A Taiwanese filmmaker, Yi-Shan, is heartbroken by the death of her best friend, Chun, who died during a trek in Nepal. Retracing Chun’s final path through the mountains, she uncovers cherished memories of their radical youth and honours Chun’s deep bond with his surviving partner, Yueh.
The Astronaut Lovers
Argentinian filmmaker Marco Berger examines masculinity and sexuality in this comedy-drama about two childhood friends, Pedro and Maxi. During a vacation, Maxi asks Pedro to pose as his boyfriend to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. As they engage in flirtatious banter, romantic tension grows, challenging their views on sexuality.
Sally!
Deborah Craig pays tribute to the iconic Sally Gearhart in this documentary, which explores Gearhart’s life as a prominent lesbian activist. The film provides a glimpse into Gearhart’s radical separatist politics from the 1970s, blending animation, archival footage, and candid moments from her life in a commune.
With numerous filmmaker intros and Q&As, industry events, illustrated talks, panel discussions, workshops, quiz and free DJ nights, there so much to enjoy at BFI Flare 2025.
