5 LGBT films you can watch right now

The BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival opened yesterday, its thirtieth edition. The festival runs from 16 to 27 March, showing both new and classic LGBT films from around the world. For the second year running, some short selections are available to you for free right now.

This year, the #FiveFilms4Freedom campaign offers a diverse and compelling sample of short films, with family relationships and LGBT youth among the themes covered.

The goal of the project is to highlight the continuing struggle for basic human rights, which the festival organizers point out “remains the most pressing issue for so many LGBT people worldwide”.

All of the films can be viewed online for free on the BFI Flare’s website.

Breathe

What does it mean to “be a man”? What happens when children don't fall in line with what society expects, and how do we as adults react? In Breathe, an Irish father struggles to raise his son who does not conform to his ideas of masculinity. Some scenes contain violence against children.

Swirl

A love story of two girls in the city. This short, shot in reverse, has no dialogue, but still speaks volumes.

Orchid

How do you break some big news to your son when all you can seem to get is his voicemail? In only three minutes, Orchid tells a heartwarming tale of a father and son who are about to share a life-changing moment.

Take Your Partners

Ollie is a cowboy. When she and the other girls in class are asked to make Easter bonnets, she must find a way to finish her assignment, John Wayne style.

Xavier

A coming of age tale in which Nicolas begins to notice his 11-year-old son is spending a lot of time with another boy.