Love & resilience: Five Films for Freedom to spotlight global LGBTQIA+ voices

The British Council and BFI Flare are set to bring the world’s LGBTQIA+ stories to your screens with the return of Five Films for Freedom, happening from March 19-30, 2025. The initiative will showcase five short films from diverse countries including Indonesia, New Zealand, China, Switzerland, and the UK. These films highlight themes of love, identity, and self-expression.

The selection includes DragFox, a story about a magical fox guiding a child on their gender identity journey, We’ll Go Down in History, which follows a trans football club, and NGGAK!!!, a family drama centered on young queer love. Other notable films include If I Make It to the Morning, exploring tradition and identity, and Wait, Wait, Now!, a celebration of childhood friendship.

Since its inception in 2015, Five Films for Freedom has reached over 26 million people worldwide. The films will be available for online streaming, and special screenings will also take place in Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.


Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council said, "Five Films for Freedom is more than a film programme, it is a powerful global movement that champions the freedom to love and be seen. As we mark 11 years of this partnership with British Film Institute Flare, we continue to celebrate the resilience, creativity, and courage of LGBTQIA+ filmmakers whose stories inspire change. This initiative is a testament to the power of storytelling in fostering inclusivity, understanding, and cultural exchange, and we are proud to bring these films to audiences in India and across the world. This year, alongside digital screenings, we are excited to host in-person screenings in Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru, creating spaces for deeper engagement and conversation”.

Kristy Matheson Director, BFI Festivals, shared, "BFI Flare is a place for community, thought and discussion through films and over the last decade it’s been a privilege and a joy for our team to work with filmmakers and the British Council to expand this space across the globe. As we embark on the 11th edition of ‘Five Films for Freedom’, we continue to be inspired by the enormous creativity of LGBTQIA+ storytelling and the power of the short film medium to spark connection and conversation."



This year’s five featured films are:



DragFox – Directed by Lisa Ott
Eleven-year-old Sam, struggling with their gender identity, feels lost—until a mischievous fox (voiced by Ian McKellen) leaps through their window, leading them on a musical journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

If I Make it to the Morning – Directed by Andre Shen 沈天扬
On the final night of her college tour, Chinese teen Ziyi stays with her cool aunt in New York, dreaming of studying there—until an unexpected revelation stirs tension.



NGGAK!!! – Directed by Oktania Hamdani and Winner Wijaya
While gaming online, girlfriends Sekar and Bebi share laughs and memes—until Sekar's mother calls, arranging a match for her. Can she make her mother see she’s already found the one?



We’ll Go Down in History – Directed by Cameron Richards and Charlie Tidmas
A heartfelt two-year documentary following TRUK United, a proudly trans football club founded in 2021, as they battle challenges on and off the pitch to build a safe, inclusive community amid rising transphobia.



Wait, Wait, Now! – Directed Ramon Te Wake
Left home alone, best friends Alex and Sam raid Mum’s wardrobe, embracing a fantasy world where they feel safe—until their parents catch on. Is their bubble about to burst?


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