Experience the free programme 16-19 March at the BFI Southbank
BY GEORGIA DIMDORE-MILES, IMAGE BY BFI FLARE
For the first time BFI Flare are introducing BFI Flare Expanded, a free programme of cutting-edge immersive projects from four boundary-pushing LGBTQIA+ filmmakers and artists. Utilising emerging technologies to tell their stories, the projects span multiple mediums. BFI Flare Expanded will take place in a dedicated exhibition space at BFI Southbank over the first four days of the festival from 16-19 March, as part of the full Flare programme from 15-26 March.
Works presented include the world’s first ever LGBTQ+ VR Museum; the world premiere of a new configuration of WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT, an interactive digital archive dedicated to the preservation of Black trans history and culture; the UK premiere of He F***** The Girl Out Of Me, a powerful video game which tells the story of one trans woman’s journey through sex work, and the UK premiere of the visually stunning Chroma 11, which reunites two lost lovers and dance partners through the power of virtual reality.
Ulrich Schrauth, BFI Flare Expanded programmer, said: “We’re thrilled to bring this free programme of immersive art and extended reality works to BFI Flare for the very first time. BFI Flare has always celebrated and foregrounded queer narratives and perspectives, and these projects utilise the latest in technology to share powerful and personal stories of identity, belonging, self-expression and vulnerability, all qualities that BFI Flare embodies. We want to surprise Festival attendees with a wide range of different formats and immersive experiences, providing new insight into our increasingly complex world by celebrating the value of LGBTQIA+ histories and legacies.”
The LGBTQ+ VR Museum is particularly exciting being a world first. Conceived by the acclaimed British creative technologist Antonia Forster with Thomas Terkildsen, it is dedicated to celebrating and documenting the history and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. Users can explore a virtual museum filled with touching personal artefacts donated by individuals and accompanied by their personal stories told in their own words. Creating a space that is both informative and inclusive, the Museum offers a unique and engaging way for people to learn about the diverse history and experiences of the community.
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