LGBT film festival announces opening and closing films
The UK’s longest running LGBT film event, BFI Flare, has announced its opening and closing films​ for 2018.
Opening the festival on the 21 March will be Tali Shalom-Ezer’s My Days Of Mercy. Powered by stirring performances from Ellen Page and Kate Mara, My Days Of Mercy is a poignant love story between two women from vastly different backgrounds and with opposing political views.
The film was written by BAFTA nominated British writer Joe Barton, and produced by Ellen Page, Kate Mara, Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa.
Michael Blyth, BFI Flare’s Senior Programmer told DIVA: “It’s a pleasure to open this year’s Festival with My Days Of Mercy, Tali Shalom-Ezer’s politically resonant and emotionally astute drama.
“This is bold and provocative filmmaking, featuring captivating performances from both Kate Mara and Ellen Page, the latter of whom continues to show such inspiring commitment to telling LGBT stories on screen”.
We’re delighted to announce that the Opening Night Gala of #BFIFlare will be the UK Premiere of My Days of Mercy, while Closing Night will be the European Premiere of Postcards from London https://t.co/92wyaoxN6C pic.twitter.com/s6nyW51BPN
— BFI Flare (@BFIFlare) 15 February 2018
The closing film will be the European Premiere of the stylish and sexy Postcards From London, Steve McLean’s long-awaited follow-up to his 1994 Sundance and Indie Spirit-nominated drama Postcards from America. It tells the story of beautiful teenager Jim (Harris Dickinson) who, having travelled from the suburbs, finds himself in Soho where he falls in with a gang of unusual high class male escorts known as The Raconteurs.
Set in a vibrant, neon-lit, imaginary vision of Soho, this morality tale manages to be both a beautifully shot homage to the spirit of Derek Jarman, and a celebration of the homo-erotic in Baroque art.
“In recent years, the Festival has been developing links between the established film industry and the UK’s very exciting new generation of emerging LGBT identified filmmakers”, said Tricia Tuttle, Artistic Director at BFI Festivals.
“We’re seeing a true strength in depth of talent in the UK and it’s a real thrill to see this in action with our Closing Night film, Steve McLean’s stylish and witty Postcards from London, a love song to European queer art and culture.”
The BFI Flare Film Festival kicks off with the UK Premiere of My Days Of Mercy on 21 March at BFI Southbank. Postcards From Italy will close the festival on 31 March at BFI Southbank.​​ The BFI Flare Film Festival runs from ​21 March – 1st April​ 2018.
For more head to bfi.org.uk/flare or follow them on Twitter @BFIFlare.
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