OFN LGBTQIA+ Film Festival

2024 program...

OPENING GALA FEATURE: WHAT A FEELING (dir: Kat Roher, Austria)

Marie Theres, a successful doctor, had special plans for her 20th wedding anniversary – but her husband has other plans and breaks up with her that evening. As a result of this unpleasant turn-of-events, Marie Theres goes for a drink, stumbles into Bigi‘s queer bar and meets Fa. Fun-loving and spontaneous, Fa takes Marie Theres home after a boozy evening. As their worlds collide, feelings emerge but nothing is simple. A heartfelt and clever romantic comedy about two middle aged women who refuse to be pushed to the sidelines of life. 

Opening Gala short: Embrasse-moi (dir: Hristo Todorov, France).

---

FEATURE SELECTION 

SUNFLOWER (dir: Gabriel Carrubba, Australia). English Premiere. Nominated for Best International Feature jury prize at Rio Festival de Cinema LGBTQIA+, it’s the story of a 17-year-old boy struggling to understand and embrace his sexuality as he comes of age in Melbourne’s working-class suburbs.

DRIP LIKE COFFEE (dir: Anaiis Cisco, USA) + director Q&A. European Premiere. An unexpected romance evolves between two Brooklyn baristas, Kali and budding photographer Mel. As love struggles to find a place in their complicated lives, they embark on a journey of self-discovery. With the help of friends and loved ones, they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship and discover the transformative power of love. 

LIUBEN (dir: Venci Kostov, Bugaria/Spain). Winner of the Pink Dragon Jury Award at Ljubljana LGBT Film Festival, it’s the story of a summer romance between two boys from different worlds, set in a Bulgarian mountain village where prejudice simmers. Victor leaves his nice life in Madrid with his partner José, returning to his childhood home for his grandfather’s funeral. Deciding to stay for the summer to reconnect with his father and the village way of life, he unexpectedly finds love with an 18-year-old Roma boy. 

THIS TIME (dir: Robert Vaughn, Canada). Acclaimed at festivals including Whistler, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, this roadtrip movie follows a closeted teen who inherits her estranged father’s journal, revealing cryptic clues that uncover his secret life. To fulfil her father’s dying wish, she blackmails an alcoholic hearse driver to race her to Los Angeles to attempt a rendezvous with her father's supposed friend, Liza Minnelli. Online screening.

PADRES (dir: Benjamin Lopez, Puerto Rico). European Premiere. When Virginia donates her eggs to her twin brother David and his partner Bruno so they can become parents, she hides this from her husband Miguel. After the birth of the baby, Virginia and Bruno die in a tragic accident – so David and Miguel must join together to protect the young boy. This comedy shows how love can do everything, highlighting the true meaning of what it is to be family. Online screening.

---

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES (all screening online)

FABULOUS FEMININITIES (dir: Jonothon Lees, UK). Challenging misconceptions surrounding burlesque and showcasing its empowering nature as a celebration of body positivity, creativity, and self-expression, this captivating documentary offers a glimpse into the lives of six burlesque performers from across the UK.

WARM FILM (dir: Dragon Jovicevic, Serbia). UK Premiere. An award nominee at Beldocs and Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, this doc sees two young actors receive an offer to star in a movie with homosexual love scenes. Torn between the desire of become famous and the fear of being labelled, they begin to explore how LGBTI people were portrayed throughout the history of Yugoslav cinema.

BREAKING TABOOS WITH LOVE (dir: Akshay N Rao, India). UK Premiere. A poignant and empowering documentary following the journey of Gourav and Kahran as they embark on a mission to challenge societal norms through their love story. Same-sex marriage is not yet legally acknowledged in India – but this film, set against the backdrop of a ‘Great Indian Wedding’, sees their friends and family gather from far and wide to support them. Their story emerges as a beacon of hope, illustrating what it truly means to love fearlessly and challenge conventions. 

What Was Your Previous Name? (dir: Iban Pàmies, Toni Torbellino, Belén López, Spain). UK Premiere. Placing identity as a common need in the human experience, this documentary shows the lives of trans people and their day-to-day experiences. With a great sense of humour, they explain what their transition process has been like and what obstacles and barriers they have encountered. 

TENS ACROSS THE BOARD (dir: Bobby “Broady” Best, USA). UK Premiere. Ballroom culture has become a global phenomenon, championed by black and brown LGBTQ artists in dance, music, and fashion. Featuring masterful voguers and a pulsating soundtrack, this documentary takes an in-depth look at the lives of those in the St. Louis ballroom community and the performers of the TENS Experience, spearheaded by Maven Logik Lee. 

THE FLAG (dir: Miha Mohorič, Slovenia). UK Premiere. Informed by the colours that make up the rainbow flag, this film intimately explores the lives of eight individuals from the LGBTQ+ community in Ljubljana, Slovenia, each bringing their unique perspective and experience to the forefront. From personal tales of struggle and acceptance to moments of triumph and celebration, the film reflects on the global significance of the rainbow flag as a symbol of pride, solidarity and resistance.

---

SHORTS PROGRAMMES

SHORTS PROGRAMME: JOURNEYS

This documentary shorts programme includes I Am Michelle (Ukraine), following a 20-year-old transgender girl in Kyiv who dreams of becoming a model, and returns to her birthplace village in western Ukraine to visit her relatives and friends who were the first to accept her identity and changes. 

Seahorse Parents (Netherlands) sees four soon-to-be transgender parents share their personal stories of what carrying their future children as transgender males is like. 

Façade (UK) portrays a transgender woman who, following gender affirming facial feminisation surgery, contemplates what it means to be alive using the words of Shakespeare's famous speech 'To be or not to be...' 

Protect The Children (Norway) highlights how the past year in the US has seen more restrictive bills towards transgender people than ever before. The reason: to protect the children. Pride events in Florida are therefore not just a celebration, but a fight for the children and their lives. 

Additional online titles: 

I Exist (Belgium), 

What Are You Having? (Canada), 

Safe Space (Turkey), 

Break The Mould (Australia), 

I’ll Just Have Cats (UK)

---

SHORTS PROGRAMME: HEARTBEAT V1

Pehli Date (India) sees 45-year-old Aastha Goenka finally go on her first date with 35-year-old Priya Malhotra – and she's in for a day filled with conversations about heteronormativity, vulnerability, and second chances. 

Phonetime (UK) is a transcendent tale of love following two separated lovers as they navigate the difficulties of their past and the possibilities of their future. 

Mermaid (Brazil) is the story of a boy full of imagination who likes to draw mermaids and play with dolls. It’s his birthday, but the presence of his intolerant and violent father ruins any party mood. Secretly, his mother prepares him a surprise. 

Digital Desires (UK) is a sci-fi drama about a rejected cynic who tries to resist chatting to an AI voice-mimic of her crush/ex-girlfriend but cannot escape its narcotic allure. 

The Washing Machine (Spain) demonstrates how starting a washing machine is not so easy for everyone: you still have to choose the right program. 

Sister Wives (UK) is a multi-layered love story that tells the tale of young women living in a strict, fundamentalist, polygamous society in 2003 Utah, USA. 

Additional online titles: 

Velipādu: The Revelation (India), 

Moonbeaming (Canada),

Miss Dress (Greece), 

Forever Ago (USA), 

The Dress (Spain), 

Alima & Omar (France), 

Last Encounter (France), 

A Fuckboi Story (Spain), 

Yellow Polka Dot (USA), 

Stone (UK), 

Find Me (Turkey), 

Flowers (USA), 

Fuck This Shit, Love Me! (Czech Republic), 

Agaves al Alba (Mexico), 

Light Up/Kialtás (Hungary), 

Remains of the Film (Mongolia), 

Roughhouse (Singapore)

---

SHORTS PROGRAMME: MIX BITS

An eclectic programme comprising Web TV Pilots, Music Videos and UK Student Shorts.

Set in 1970s rural Devon and exploring the paradox of Catholicism and homosexuality, Christmas, 1978 (UK) delves into the nuanced relationship between a father and son within a heavily Catholic working-class community in the week leading up to Christmas Day.

In King of Spades (UK) two men return home from a date after months into their relationship to discover just how different their expectations of intimacy are. 

Manhood (UK) is a continuous shot musical short film of ROB.GREEN’s EP of the same name, drawing directly from his personal experience coming to terms with sexuality, race and a religious upbringing. 

Split episode 1 (France) follows stuntwoman Anna, who falls in love with the star she doubles on the set of a feature film.

That Sounds Like “I Love You” (UK) sees Frankie, alone in the silence of her own world, look back on her relationship with the songwriter Amy as she slowly becomes completely deaf.

Also includes music videos Hot On You (UK), Naoise – Stance (Ireland).

Additional online titles: 

Dzifa (UK), 

Gay Church (USA), 

La Cumbia De Las Locas (Mexico), 

Murderer In The Moonlight (Germany), 

My First Time – Self Discovery (Australia), 

Not Close Enough To You (Germany), 

PENETRA RMX (Brazil), 

Quarantine Love (USA), 

Real (USA), 

Sebastien Delage – Platinum Fuck (France), 

Split Ends (UK), 

The Lesbian Lobster Song (Canada).

---

SHORTS PROGRAMME: ETHEREAL

Borrowed Time (UK) sees Liam who, thanks to new technology, is able to bring his dead Dad back to life for just five minutes and finally ask a very important question. In Imagine (Mexico) a dreamy boy, a seamstress aunt, and the power of imagination intertwine in a magical journey of self-discovery and boundless creativity. 

Open on the Close (UK) follows Naomi as she tries to pluck up the courage to tell her colleague Lydia how she feels. But will her imaginary life coach Ali Silver prove to be a help or a hindrance?

Set in Victorian England, Scarlet (UK) is the tale of a vampire held captive by a dogmatic vampire hunter who attempts to 'purify' the unclean creature. 

Synergy (UK) explores identity and self-expression via the mediums of dance and fashion. 

The Monster Within Me (UK) is a short story about Tristan, a young man who must battle with his nature and his emotions after an unexpected and tragic event. 

Where Are All The Gay Superheroes? (UK) is a is a LGBTQIA+ crowdpleaser, combining elements of sci-fi, drama and comedy starring Rory Fleck-Byrne (BBC’s This Is Going to Hurt) and Imran Adams (C4’s Hollyoaks).

In Faghouse (Argentina), Anjelica feels that death is near her, and decides to fake her funeral in a weird way, kind of a rehearsal.

And Aivlis (Spain) is the tale of someone whose world is on backwards.

Additional online titles: 

ABADDON (France), 

Bright Heart (France), 

Happy Ever After (Germany), 

Lungs (UK), 

PTPD – Put The Phone Down (Cyprus), 

Their Universe (Korea), 

Transpassing (USA)

---

SHORTS PROGRAMME: CROSSING THE EDGE

Stimulating an array of feelings, this shorts programme includes horror and the erotic.

Dead Body (UK) sees a non-binary individual who is trapped, fearful of something trying to break in. As they try to protect themself, their chances of escaping a monster with a familiar face diminish fast. 

Blind Eye (UK) tells the story of Isaac: obsessed with getting the perfect body and eating the right food, he will do anything to get his ex back, even if that means sacrificing his vision. 

Object(s) of Desire (UK) is a three-performer portrait celebrating XXL homoerotica and queer joy, featuring Smashlyn Monroe, Jade Williams, and the film’s director Liberty Antonia Sadler. 

Veneralia (UK) is a movement-driven experimental film, exploring queer pleasure and body horror, whilst celebrating historically villainised women. 

Rage Consumes Me (UK) is a poetic and provocative exploration of being non-binary in today’s society, giving voice to queer rage in a discomfiting, cathartic viewing experience.

In Forever Flowers (UK) a young caregiver and her unsavoury boyfriend attempt to steal from an elderly couple, but their plans unravel as they meet an unexpected fate beyond their imagination.

Gary takes his partner Nico to his family’s farm in Missouri, where both men are possessed by unseen forces in The Appraiser (USA).

Noah and Medhi encounter one another cruising in Park Life (UK), and what starts as a meaningless and transactional hook up, soon blossoms into something unexpectedly romantic and meaningful as they wander the quiet streets of London one morning.

Also featuring Summer Night’s Fantasy (Spain), Cardboard Diamonds (Spain), Divine Affirmation (Canada), Summer with Maria (Spain).

Additional online titles: 

Again (Switzerland), 

Bleach (UK), 

Boyfriends (USA),

Celebration (Mexico), 

Coffee Grapefruit Cacao (France), 

Collette (USA), 

Dinner Party (Mexico), 

Fisherman (Germany), 

Genre Hopper (Finland), 

Good Boy (Chile), 

Handsy (USA), 

Illuminati Castrati (New Zealand), 

Loose (UK), Lovely (Canada), 

The Night of Purple Horrors (Estonia), 

Their Everywhere (Australia), 

Unspoken (Brazil)

---

SHORTS PROGRAMME: ANIMATION

A romantic psychological thriller, Christopher at Sea (UK) portrays Christopher who, after a brief encounter with one of the shipmates, settles into life as a passenger onboard a cargo ship, but begins to question his sanity and the very understanding of his perception of time.

In Love On The Edge (Netherlands) Gina suspects that her lover is seeing someone else, so she draws attention with a very risky climb that puts herself in danger.

Set in 1942, on a train to nowhere, Maurice’s Bar (France) sees a former drag queen recall a night from her past in one of Paris’ first queer bars. 

Dragfox (UK) sees Sam's search for identity get interrupted by a mysterious neighbourhood fox, and together they embark on a magical journey to the attic to discover the surprising things they have in common. 

Layered Identities: Intersectionality and LGBT+ Rights (UK) sees LGBT+ rights activists from around the world share what intersectionality means to them.

In Brim Broome Boulevard (USA) a child wanders through a set of mysterious doors, embarking on a journey of self-discovery where fear and fashion intertwine. 

Bless Grace Jones (UK) is a poem by Warsan Shire, and an animated poetry film in collaboration with Forward Arts dedicated to the beauty and power that is Grace Jones.

Additional online titles: 

Flesh Of God (Argentina), 

Even Still (USA), 

The Son Of Satan (USA), 

Coming Out Autistic (UK).

---

SHORTS PROGRAMME: HEARTBEAT V2

Breaking Through/L’Échappée (France) sees Safia return to Corsica every summer to visit her dad. This summer, an announcement is going to shake up the family and take Safia on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

A film centred on advocacy for issues in regards domestic abuse, intersex awareness, right to preferred sexual orientation, representation, gender identity and police brutality in Nigeria, Silent Screams (Nigeria) sees a group of friends get together to support their Intersex friend who has a life changing interview release.

Made by a team of filmmakers who are BAFTA connect members, Develop (UK) focuses on a woman visiting her dying mother, for a family portrait photographed by her new girlfriend – but she struggles to tell her mother about this blossoming relationship.

The Cornish language short film Clan (UK) tells of 16-year-old trans teenager, Cam, who feels out-of-place in his small island community on the Isles of Scilly – until the arrival of Teän: confident and unashamedly out in their non-binary identity. But Teän’s presence sparks something more sinister for Cam’s older brother.

Set in the vibrant heart of London, Dani El (UK) sees 18-year-old Romanian immigrant Dani seek refuge with their estranged brother. Amidst newfound freedom, Dani embarks on a journey of self-discovery, grappling with their gender identity and finding an unexpected connection with their brother’s enigmatic cannabis dealer. 

---

PARTIES, ENTERTAINMENT & AWARDS CEREMONY

OFN’s red-carpet, glamour-themed premiere launch party kicks off with the mesmerising Andromeda, whose androgynous performance will launch us into the weekend. The night continues with a live musical extravaganza inspired by icons at the luscious Louche Soho on Greek Street, featuring the incredible stars of the West End stage, Emyr and Bryony. 

Saturday’s after-party will be hosted by the fabulous Dramala Tina, with Jesus RedSoul spinning the decks at The Yard. 

On Sunday, the weekend reaches its peak with the highly anticipated OFN Awards Ceremony at Soho Theatre: a private guestlist-only event presenting more accolades than any other LGBTQIA+ festival in Europe. This exclusive event will spotlight 18 prestigious awards, accompanied by show-stopping performances from the OFN family, and hosted by the festival’s weekend hostess, the delightful Debbie Del Rey, making it an unforgettable evening of celebration and talent.

---