BFI Flare returns for its 40th year from March 18-29, 2026, at BFI Southbank with an extensive programme of LGBTQIA+ cinema. The festival showcases feature-length films, directorial debuts, and queer stories from around the world. Notable offerings include Big Girls Don't Cry, a coming-of-age debut from Jane Campion-mentored filmmaker Paloma Schneideman about a teenage girl's sexual awakening in early 2000s New Zealand, and Black Burns Fast, the closing night film exploring queer identity in a South African boarding school. Beyond screenings, the festival features special events including Heartstopper Forever! with Alice Oseman and a screen talk with Russell T Davies, providing opportunities for deeper engagement with LGBTQ+ storytelling and creators.
"Through the eyes of a teenage girl in early 2000s New Zealand, Big Girls Don't Cry charts burgeoning desire over the course of a summer holiday. Sid (Ani Palmer) spends her days ignoring her father and perusing online chatrooms. The 14-year-old is adrift, caught between childhood and adolescence; she's desperate to locate her identity. When she becomes enamoured with a group of older teens, Sid begins to navigate her burgeoning desires."
"Black Burns Fast charts the sexual awakening of nerdy 17-year-old Luthando (Esihle Ndleleni). She's set on good grades until the arrival of rebellious new girl Ayanda (Muadi Ilung). The pair begin a clandestine romance. With Ayanda, Luthando gets a taste of the freedom she craves. Though as jealousy threatens to rear its head, Luthando's exciting relationship and the bond she has with her family are put under threat."
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