British Council and BFI premiere More Films for Freedom
Available worldwide from 15 June to 14 September
The free-to-access More Films for Freedom debuts on 15 June with three short films exploring LGBTIQ+ stories commissioned by the British Council, BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival and BFI NETWORK in partnership with the GAZE Film Festival Dublin.
The initiative builds on Five Films for Freedom: the world’s widest-reaching LGBTIQ+ online film campaign, run by the British Council and BFI. Since its 2015 launch this annual digital screening has been viewed by more than 14 million people in at least 200 countries, including places where homosexuality remains illegal. More Films for Freedom responds to a gap in projects and stories originating from Africa and the Middle East.
The three debut films have been developed separately by filmmakers in the UK working independently with Palestinian, South African and Syrian filmmakers. They explore compelling LGBTIQ+ realities amidst themes of gender, freedom and global human rights:
Nowhere, streaming 15 June – 14 July: Written and directed by award-winning Christopher Manning, this short drama tells the story of a young Palestinian woman who crosses the Israeli border to find her long-lost brother.
The Men Who Speak Gayle, streaming 15 July – 14 August: Young drag performer Nathan and retired airline steward Louis bond through Gayle, a secret language created by the gay community during Apartheid South Africa, in this documentary by Andrew Brukman.
Let My Body Speak, streaming 15 August – 14 September: Syrian refugee Madonna Adib writes and directs this personal account of the experiences her body stores – from her childhood in Damascus, battling OCD, witnessing the Syrian revolution, and falling in love with a woman.
The teams behind each film were selected for their uniquely collaborative international approach to filmmaking and, as part of the commission, worked with BFI Vision awardee Loran Dunn as Executive Producer.
