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BFI London Film Festival: 5 LGBTQ+ Movies to Put on your Watchlist
Now celebrating its 67th year in London, the BFI London Film Festival runs from October 4th to October 15th, 2023. The full program is available online. With its wide variety of movies—225 titles—it can be challenging to decide what to watch. Here's our list of 5 under-the-radar LGBTQ+ movies that you absolutely need to see.
The highly-anticipated and most critically acclaimed film of the year so far– All of Us Strangers – is directed by Andrew Haigh. Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott star in this fantasy British drama as two men living in London. Adam is a screenwriter and encounters his mysterious neighbor Harry. As their relationship develops, Adam returns to his childhood home to discover his long-dead parents are not only alive and well, but have seemingly not aged since thirty years ago.
Goran Stolevski directs Housekeeping for Beginners, our second pick. It tells the story of a queer Macedonian family trying to find their place in society amidst personal tragedies. When reluctant mother Dita is forced to raise her girlfriend’s daughters, they must learn to understand each other and fight for each other’s love. Anamaria Marinca, Alina Serban, and Samson Selim lead the international cast.
After winning at Sundance, Slow is one of the most talked-about titles in the lineup. The movie delicately explores the world of asexuality. When sign-language interpreter Dovydas comes out as asexual to his lover, dancer Elena, they need to find a way to adapt to this significant revelation that is affecting and changing their relationship. Lithuanian director Marija Kavtaradze creates an intimate portrayal of a relationship, with Greta Grinevičiūtė and Kęstutis Cicėnas as the main stars.
Exploring female reproductive rights in Brazil, Power Alley follows star volleyball player Sofia as she seeks an abortion, confronting stigma and opposition from local fundamentalist groups. Director Lillah Halla creates an important portrayal of queer sisterhood.
Zeno Graton directs an outstanding feature debut, our final pick – The Lost Boys. Starring Khalil Gharbia, Julien de Saint Jean, Eye Haïdara, the movie provides an intimate look at young gay love and the psychological consequences of incarceration. When two juvenile detention residents Joe and William fall in love, Joe must confront whether he is willing to give up on his freedom for love. Have a look at the trailer below:
The 67th BFI London Film Festival has so many fascinating films – you can also find our highlights and the full line-up.
