British Council launches 7th edition of Five Films for Freedom,world’s largest LGBTIQ+ digital campaign
19 March 2021:British Council brings the seventh edition of Five Films For Freedom, the world’s largest LGBTIQ+ digital campaign. Audiences everywhere are invited to watch the five films online in solidarity with LGBTIQ+ communities in places where freedom and equal rights are limited, and to spread the word using the hashtag #FiveFilmsForFreedom.Self-expression, homophobia in rural communities, coming out as a teenager, and finding love later in life – this year’s short films look at an intersection of LGBTIQ+ perspectives to explore love and acceptance.
Broadcasting five brand new LGBTIQ+ films to countries around the world, this year’s programme showcases queer storytelling from India, Spain, Sweden, USA andthe UK. The festival’s short film selection includes an Indian film this time. Titled,Bodies of Desire, and directed by Varsha Panikar and Saad Nawab, the movie uses Panikar’s work as the basis for a visual, poetic film capturing four sets of lovers in a sensual celebration of genderless love and desire.
Over 15 million people from more than 200 countries have viewed the Five Films For Freedom programme since its launch in 2015. This continues to include online engagement in countries where homosexuality can be pros ecuted and, in some cases, punishable by death. Especially for Indian audiences, the Five Films will also be stre amed on Jio Cinema, one of India’s leading video on-demand streaming services.This year, the campaign further addresses the language barrier typically associated with international content, by providing subtitles in local languages such as Hindi.
In India, British Council has partnered with The Queer Muslim Project, South Asia’s largest virtual network of queer, Muslim and allied individuals, to celebrate and amplify LGBTIQ+ stories, voices and people. This year’s programme will also feature a community video from one of India’s largest youth multimedia platforms, Yuvaa and a podcast on the Five Films For Freedom by Bi Collective Delhi.
In addition, a series of COVID-sensitive community film screenings and curated online or offline engagements will be hosted by 10 LGBTIQ+and allied communities, collectives and organisationsacross India. Varsha Panikar, Director (Bodies of Desire) will be part of several community engagements.
The 2021 programme plan also includes an Online Digital Storytelling Workshop for young LGBTIQ+ artists and creators based in India and Nepal. The 2-day online Digital Storytelling workshop is designed to equip participants with the skills needed to tell their stories in a digital format.
All films are available to view from 17 – 28 March 2021 via the British Council Arts YouTube channel.
