BFI Flare, the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival runs from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 28 March. You can watch all of the festival film programme in the UK using BFI Player, the BFI’s video-on-demand service. You need to buy a ticket to watch a feature film on BFI Player – just as you would for a physical screening. Feature films will be available to watch at any time 17 to 28 March. You have 4 hours to finish watching the film after you have started. Short films are free to watch in the UK and can be watched without a BFI Player account and you can watch free events on BFI YouTube and BFI Flare Facebook anywhere in the world.
So, from today, I’ll post a daily recommendation of a feature film worthy of your time and money. I’ll try to post about the shorts as well (it’s a scramble to fit in all the watching!)
Today’s suggestion is the uplifting Mama Gloria – well worth spending 75 minutes of your time with this luminous elder of the queer community. Gloria Allen, now in her 70s, is a trans woman and activist in Chicago. The film tells her story from her early childhood and school days through time on the ball scene. Along the way she has met with tremendous love and support as well as appalling danger and bigotry. Now she supports young trans women along their journey.
The film tells an important historical story for the community and gives hope to Black trans women to empower and live their lives. It doesn’t sugar coat the hardships, but Gloria is such an engaging and charismatic person that her story – and film – are uplifting.
A positive affirmation for everyone in the queer community.
