The five films drawn from the BFI Flare Festival programme that will make up the 2026 Five Films For Freedom are from Brazil, France, United Kingdom, USA/Mexico and Vietnam. 

I HATE HELEN (Dir. Katie Lambert, UK, 7 min)
Priya hates Helen. She hates her in the canteen. Hates her in science. Especially hates her at swimming. Mostly, Priya hates the way Helen makes her feel. A short film about the tidal wave of gay lust some girls feel in school and letting those feelings just wash over you. PG.

RAG DOLLS (Dir. Amy Adler, USA / Mexico, 12 min)
Married couple Rosalinda (born with spina bifida) and Diana (who has cerebral palsy) navigate life in Puebla, Mexico, where disability intersects with discrimination and poverty. Abandoned by family, underserved by government support systems, and facing persistent homophobia, the women have built a life centred on mutual care and protection. Observing a single ordinary day, the film follows their routines, a romantic date, and moments of reflection on their enduring love. U.

ROOM 206 (Dir. Laurie Bisceglia, 16 min, France)
After undergoing gender-affirming surgery, Clair no longer cares what the world thinks. Reclaiming his body becomes a path toward self-recognition for the first time in his life. This documentary accompanies him not only through physical change, but towards emotional renewal and a new beginning. PG.

SWEAT (Mô Hôi) (Dir. Edward Nguyen, Vietnam, 15 min)
On the eve of leaving rural Vietnam, farm worker Hung prepares to illegally cross the border in search of refuge abroad. Defined by routine and labour, his final day with Hoang, a fellow worker, reshapes his understanding of desire, intimacy and selfhood. U.

THEO (Dir. Monica Palazzo and Joana Galvão, Brazil, 15 min)
Brazil, 1986. During the World Cup, seven-year-old Theo quietly navigates school life while defying rigid gender expectations. Between silence and rebellion, they begin inventing their own way of existing. U.