Five Films For Freedom

Five Films For Freedom returns from 18-29 March!

Celebrate global stories in support of LGBTQIA+ communities around the world with our annual online programme of short films, in partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

Each year we select five films from the BFI Flare programme and make them available online for audiences around the world for free for 11 days. The programme champions the power of storytelling to spark deeper understanding and change, showcasing diverse voices and perspectives that remind us that, no matter who we are or where we are, the need for love and self-expression is universal.

Five Films For Freedom 2026

We're excited to announce the programme for this year, with films come from Brazil, France, UK, USA/Mexico and Vietnam.

Watch the trailer and read about the programme below, and look out for the launch on 18 March across our channels.

#FiveFilmsForFreedom

I Hate Helen

Directed by Katie Lambert (UK)

Priya hates Helen. She hates her in the canteen. Hates her in science. Especially hates her at swimming. Mostly, Priya hates the way Helen makes her feel. A short film about the tidal wave of gay lust some girls feel in school and letting those feelings just wash over you.

Rag Dolls

Directed by Amy Adler (USA/Mexico)

Married couple Rosalinda (born with spina bifida) and Diana (who has cerebral palsy) navigate life in Puebla, Mexico, where disability intersects with discrimination and poverty. Abandoned by family, underserved by government support systems, and facing persistent homophobia, the women have built a life centred on mutual care and protection. Observing a single ordinary day, the film follows their routines, a romantic date, and moments of reflection on their enduring love.

Room 206

Directed by Laurie Bisceglia (France)

After undergoing gender-affirming surgery, Clair no longer cares what the world thinks. Reclaiming his body becomes a path toward self-recognition for the first time in his life. This documentary accompanies him not only through physical change, but towards emotional renewal and a new beginning.

Sweat (Mô Hôi)

Directed by Edward Nguyen (Vietnam)

On the eve of leaving rural Vietnam, farm worker Hung prepares to illegally cross the border in search of refuge abroad. Defined by routine and labour, his final day with Hoang, a fellow worker, reshapes his understanding of desire, intimacy and selfhood.

Theo

Directed by Monica Palazzo & Jo Galvv (Brazil)

Brazil, 1986. During the World Cup, seven-year-old Theo quietly navigates school life while defying rigid gender expectations. Between silence and rebellion, they begin inventing their own way of existing.