BFI Flare Festival 2021: Roundup

BFI Flare Festival is an important event that showcases films made by and revolving around the LGBT+ experience. Having followed the festival for years, I was given the chance to cover the festival and it did not disappoint. From the incredibly opener Jump, Darling to an array of biopics on iconic LGBT+ figures, this year’s festival left me spoilt for choice and it was really exciting to see lots of films from emerging filmmakers showing their debuts. I managed to watch eight films in total and I was really impressed with each one. I wanted to watch films from all kinds of countries and managed to see films from Canada, Estonia, New Zealand and Finland to name a few. This allowed me to see varying approaches to filmmaking and made it really exciting with every film. Each film impacted me in some way whether it was the topic, a performance or some other aspect of the filmmaking.

As usual, I have done my little awards which was really difficult because each of these films were full of strengths. They were all so different that it was hard to pick a winner for each category. After many hours of deliberating, I have finally managed to select the winners.

Here are the Smaller Pictures Winners of BFI Flare Festival:

Best Picture – Tove

Best Director – Zaida Bergroth for Tove

Best Leading Actor – Elz Carrad for Rūrangi

Best Leading Actress – Alma Pöysti for Tove

Best Supporting Actor – Shiv Palekar for The Greenhouse

Best Supporting Actress – Cloris Leachman for Jump, Darling

Best Original Screenplay – Eeva Putro for Tove

Best Adapted Screenplay – Peeter Rebane and Tom Prior for Firebird based on The Story of Roman by Sergey Fetisov

Best Debut Screenplay – Katie Found for My First Summer

Best Original Score (TIE) – Freya Berkhout for The Greenhouse and Matti Bye for Tove

Best Cinematography – Carl-Friedrich Koschnick for Enfant Terrible

Best Editing – Thea Aae for Boy Meets Boy

Best Production Design – Oskar Roehler for Enfant Terrible

Best Costume Design – Marjatta Nissinen and Mare Raidma for Firebird

Best Hair and Makeup – Tove

It goes without saying that each of the films are worth a watch. What was so great about the selection of films that I was able to watch for the festival is the range of topics and scope of setting available. There really was a film for all kinds of fans so whether you like experimental films or prefer traditional biopics, BFI Flare had you covered.

So with BFI Flare done, that means I have had the chance to cover three festivals now and it is still super exciting every time. Being able to see films from emerging and established filmmakers is always a brilliant opportunity and BFI Flare has not disappointed. All explore the LGBT+ experience and perspective in varying ways making it wildly unpredictable as well as important. All of the films are guaranteed to stay with you long after you finished watching them.