British Council & BFI Flare to Host Special Screenings of ‘Five Films For Freedom’ in Kolkata on 28 March

BY PAYEL KAR

Celebrating a long-standing partnership, the British Council, UK’s
international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities and British Film
Institute Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, present special screenings of ‘Five Films For
Freedom’ on 28 March at British Council, Kolkata. Spotlighting five powerful LGBTQIA+ short films
by filmmakers from Indonesia, New Zealand, China, Switzerland and the UK, this year’s programme
brings forth a bold selection of global stories that celebrate resilience, identity, and the power of
community.
The event is open exclusively to people who are 18 years and above with seating available on first
come first served basis.
Screening Details:
 What: ‘Five Films For Freedom’ 2025 – Produced by the British Council in partnership with
BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, a global short film programme celebrating
LGBTQIA+ stories worldwide
 When: Friday, 28 March 2025
 Timings: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 Where: British Council, L&T Chambers, 16, Camac St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017
 Registration: Free Entry
 Registration Link:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wXVirt3MRkCyoWJFosyj7C9xb_n1MlZNo
sz720MQuPJUNkxLT0FZVkNQUlZaRVM5WUkzVzNYRVQ5Mi4u&route=shorturl
Since its launch in 2015, ‘Five Films For Freedom’ has reached 26 million people, in over 200
countries and principalities – all within 100 days of online streaming each year. This year, the short
films will also be made available for free online with global access across the British Council’s digital
platforms for the duration of the festival – 19 March to 30 March 2025.
This year’s five featured films are:

1. DragFox – Directed by Lisa Ott (UK – 8 minutes)

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.

2. If I Make it to the Morning – Directed by Andre Shen 沈天扬 (USA/China – 9 minutes)
   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.
3. NGGAK!!! – Directed by Oktania Hamdani and Winner Wijaya (Indonesia – 8 minutes)
   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?
4. We’ll Go Down in History – Directed by Cameron Richards and Charlie Tidmas (UK – 25
   minutes)
   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.
5. Wait, Wait, Now! – Directed Ramon Te Wake (New Zealand – 12 minutes)
   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?
   Apart from Mumbai, ‘Five Films For Freedom’ is also being screened offline in Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai
   and Bengaluru, providing audiences with a shared space to experience these impactful films.
   Find out more about Five Films for Freedom: https://www.britishcouncil.in/programme/arts/five-
   films-for-freedom
   Watch the films online for free: https://arts.britishcouncil.org/five-films
   About Five Films For Freedom
   Five Films For Freedom is an annual online celebration of global LGBTQIA+ stories, presented in
   partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. Launched in 2015 by the British Council
   and the British Film Institute, the initiative aims to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and advocate for love as
   a human right.
   About the British Council
   The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational
   opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust
   between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture,
   education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and
   are on the ground in more than 100 countries.
   About BFI Flare
   BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival is the UK’s longest running queer film event. It began in
   1986 as Gay’s Own Pictures. By its 3rd edition it was tagged the London Lesbian and Gay Film
   Festival and since then has grown to become the largest LGBTQIA+ film event in the UK, and its most
   anticipated. The festival changed its name to BFI Flare in 2014 to reflect the increasing diversity of its
   films, filmmakers and audience. The BFI Flare 2025 Programming team are Grace Barber-Plentie,
   Diana Cipriano, Zorian Clayton, Jaye Hudson, Rhianna Ilube, Darren Jones and Wema Mumma.
   About the BFI

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the
moving image.
Our mission is:
 To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
 To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
 To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our
programmes and festivals – delivered online and in venue
 To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding of film
and the moving image
 To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen
industries
 Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of
Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt.