BFI Flare 2021: Features Review
Each year as a team we attend BFI Flare, the UK’s largest and longest-running LGBTQ+ film festival. Completely virtual this year, there were a variety of screenings, panels, and events across a 12-day period. Below, our editorial team share their thoughts on some of their favourite feature films from female and non-binary filmmakers.
BFI Flare 2021: Shorts
As well as a great programme of feature films, we also watched plenty of short films at BFI Flare – at this year’s completely virtual festival, there were nearly 40 shorts exploring LGBTQ+ themes, and they were all available to watch for free. Below, our editorial team share their thoughts on some of their favourite shorts from female and non-binary filmmakers.
Hello April
We have officially been running our monthly recommendations and update “Hello” articles for a year now, which is so lovely! We have a lot going on the scenes to to let you know about along with some wonderful top picks from our team.
Movies and wellbeing: In conversation with Jyoty
The pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we live our day-to-day lives – but has it made us more in tune with our own wellbeing? Desirée Balma sits down with DJ, podcaster, and curator Jyoty to chat about slowing down, switching off, and watching movies during lockdown.
A love letter to our independent cinemas, we’re still thinking of you.
There has recently been an announcement of a newly proposed Filmhouse, an ambitious and entirely different version of the cinema which hopes to put Edinburgh on the map as a hub for film.
An Interview with Neelakshi Yadav
Neelakshi Yadav is a filmmaker and creator of BFI Future Festival featured documentary Life is a Highway. The film features interviews with rickshaw drivers across Delhi, India and draws attention to the difficulties which these drivers face in their daily lives. In this interview, Neelakshi talks to us about her creative process when making this documentary, as well as her future plans for 2021.
An Interview with Elsa Hunter-Weston
Elsa Hunter-Weston is a writer and director based in the UK. In her experimental short film ‘Please Introduce Yourself’, the narrative follows train-watching enthusiast, Eliza. In the film, Eliza arrives at her first job interview, and this allows the viewer to gain insight into the barriers that Eliza, a d/Deaf woman, faces in the employment sector. In this interview, Elsa talks us through the inspiration behind this film, as well as the benefits of using experimental means of creation.
An Interview with India-Inés Levy
India-Inés Levy UK-based writer and producer who has been featured at the 2021 BFI Future Festival. Her short film, In The Garden, follows Frederick and Clementine - two young aristocrats - as they talk beneath an oak tree. Set in an idyllic, pastoral setting, the film expands itself past its own beauty as something more sinister begins to reveal itself. In this interview, India-Inés talks to us about the inspiration behind her film, as well as her experiences when creating a film which steps outside the contemporary.
An Interview with Paloma Lopez
Paloma Lopez is a Venezuelan director and filmmaker, based in both Los Angeles and Paris. Her film, Girls & Party, was featured at BFI Future Festival. The film follows group of girlfriends preparing for an anticipated summer party in a cramped bathroom. Between their teenage talks of boys and makeup, character Mercedes navigates her blossoming attraction towards one of her female friends. In this interview, Paloma talks to us about creating queer cinema and her creative plans for 2021.
An Interview With Simisolaoluwa Akande
Simisolaoluwa Akande is a UK based filmmaker and creator of Dudu, which has been featured at BFI Future Festival. This experimental short film explores the issues of colourism and its effects on self-identity by layering spoken word poetry over a series of evocative images. In this interview, Simisolaoluwa tells us about the benefits of intertwining poetry in her in her filmmaking, as well as her creative plans for 2021.