Five Films For Freedom, the world’s largest queer digital campaign, now in its tenth year, brings five new films from the Philippines, India, Spain, the UK and USA free to audiences worldwide.

The film program continues the British Council’s partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. You are invited to dive into the world of queer cinema from the comfort of your home and watch the films online for free until 24^th March.

Since its launch in 2015 Five Films For Freedom have been viewed worldwide by 23 million people.

This year’s five films are:

The First Kiss

Directed by Miguel Lafuente (Spain – 9 mins)

Today is a special day for Andi, heading to Chueca in Madrid to have his first date with a boy he’s met online. His older straight brother teases him about his virginity, but his heart is in the right place and he helps Andi get ready for his date.  Things, however, don’t turn out quite as Andi expected. A beautiful heartfelt tale of young love.  9/10

 

 

 

Compton’s 22

Directed by Drew de Pinto (USA – 18 mins Three years prior to Stonewall, trans sex workers and drag queens revolted against police violence at Compton’s Cafeteria in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Compton’s 22 watches interviews with many of the original participants with a new generation of queer San Franciscans who give their take on their trancestors and what happened. Brilliant archive footage combines with very charismatic current interviewees. 9/10

 

Little One

Directed by Clister Santos (Philippines – 9 mins)

A pregnant mother, unsure of how to raise a child, wants to chat with her two gay dads, but fate intervenes when one suffers a heart attack. Memories captured on an old camcorder help her reflect on their family’s history. This sweet animated film reflects on parenthood from the 1980s onwards when queer parenting was far less common. 8/10

 

 

Halfway

Directed by Kumar Chheda (India – 14 mins)

A turbulent couple end up at different entrances of Mumbai’s Juhu Beach, forcing them to walk towards each other and meet halfway. They’ve been together for two years and cracks are appearing in the relationship. Their walk together to meet makes them realise the importance of compromise in a long-term relationship.  7/10

 

Cursive

Directed by Isabel Steubel Johnson (UK – 9 mins)

Dot is in a strained relationship with her long-term girlfriend who is aggressive and domineering. Her poor handwriting skills diminish her sense of confidence. She’s on the verge of a breakup but then gets help to improve her handwriting from a mysterious stranger, and finds the inner voice she has always longed for.  7/10

 

 

 

 

 

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/five-films-for-freedom

 

 

 

Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant  (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah