Five Films For Freedom to stream free LGBTQIA+ movies until March 26, with in-person screenings from March 21 to 22

The British Council's Five Films For Freedom, known as the world’s "widest-reaching LGBTQIA+ digital campaign," returns this March.

The program is an online celebration in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights, showcasing their community's global stories in partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

Now in its ninth year, Five Films For Freedom will continue its annual tradition of presenting five LGBTQIA+-themed short films from around the world to watch for free online over a 12-day period.

These may be viewed until March 26 on the British Council Arts YouTube channel.

For this year's run, the British Council of the Philippines partnered with the Film Development Council in the Philippines (FDCP) to bring free screenings at local Cinematheque Centres from March 21 to 22.

The FDCP Cinematheque Centre–Manila will screen the films in-person at 6:30 p.m. on March 22. Its counterpart FDCP Cinematheque Centres in Iloilo, Davao, Zamboanga, Nabunturan, and Negros will hold their screenings at 4:00 p.m. on March 21 and 6:30 p.m. on March 22.

The 2023 Five Films For Freedom selection includes All I Know by Obinna Robert Onyeri (Nigeria/USA), Butch Up! by Yu-jin Lee (South Korea), Eating Papaw on the Seashore by Rae Wiltshire and Nickose Layne (Guyana), Just Johnny by Terry Loane (UK – Northern Ireland), and Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou (UK/Cyprus).

These works chosen by the British Council from BFI Flare’s program explore subjects like violence and security, love across borders, and shifting identities.

Five Films For Freedom movies have been viewed 20 million times in over 200 countries and principalities since 2015 and with programs live for less than 100 days. These include all parts of the world where homosexuality is criminalized as well as all countries where the death penalty is in place.