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Feb 25, 20213 min read

Five LGBTQ+ Short Films Available to Watch Now


Happy LGBTQ+ History Month from Unmellow Movies! We understand the importance of film when it comes to telling the stories of marginalised communities and individuals. These stories are still largely being side-lined in mainstream film, which after the television releases of I May Destroy You, Pose, and It’s a Sin, evidently has a lot of catching up to do. However, filmmaking talent from the LGBTQ+ community is not in short supply. Some of the most innovative, heart-warming, and radical presentations of queerness can be found in short films.


With BFI Flare film festival on the horizon, there is a lot to celebrate. This year, BFI Flare which champions LGBTQ+ filmmaking and stories, are bringing audiences free digital access to 38 short films for the duration of the festival which is taking place online between 17th-28th March. With an absolute stellar line-up which was fully unveiled earlier this week, we can hardly wait to get stuck into the festival next month. While, like us, you anticipate the BFI Flare programme (trust us, it looks fantastic!) here we have hand-picked five queer short films you can watch now which celebrate queer joy, cultures, and community.




1: Pxssy Palace



Two people dance joyously in a nightclub. The person on the left is wearing a sparkling tiara and earrings with a purple dress and elbow length gloves. They are throwing their hands up in the air. The person on the right has long purple braids and jewels on their face. They dance in front of glittering, purple streamers.

So much queer joy is packed into this short six-minute documentary by Laura Kirwan-Ashman. Pxssy Palace looks at the creativity and organisation behind the London nightclub and collective, Pxssy Palace, which was created by young people as a place for queer womxn, trans, non-binary, and intersex people of colour to enjoy nightlife in a safe and supportive space. The film mixes the styles of documentary and music video, bringing audiences an illuminating portrait of the collective and the people involved in its creation. The film is not only a colourful snapshot of queer youth culture in London but an exploration of space, identity, and allyship. Watch Pxssy Palace on Vimeo.




2: Leaf Boat



A 2D animated picture of two people sitting close together at the edge of some water as the sun sets. Two small boats float on the water and a small house or shed can be seen on a piece of land.

This beautifully 2D animated Welsh-language short by Efa Blosse Mason explores the exact moment of taking a leap of faith in a new romantic relationship. The clever allegorical use of water and space conveys the feelings of trepidation and uncertainty when you are letting yourself be vulnerable to someone new for the first time. The sound design of crashing waves is almost meditative, and the juxtaposing blues and oranges make the film a delight to watch. Leaf Boat is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.



3: Queens


A close up shot of a drag artist sitting at a mirror and putting make-up on someone else. They have on their drag make-up which is sparkling gold and orange eyelids and long false eyelashes.

This directorial debut by Nick Bechman has certainly put the up-and-coming filmmaker on our radar. Queens follows a quiet middle-aged man in a coastal English town as he finishes off a regular day of work and heads out to perform for the first time in a drag show. Our main character is a man of few words, a quiet observer and clearly, he has never done this before. He awkwardly shuffles into his dress and allows a more experienced drag artist to fix his make-up. The moment he steps on stage is an electrifying one bound up with a profound sense of solidarity and allyship that is needed more in LGBTQ+ filmmaking. Queens was shortlisted for the 2020 Iris Prize which highlights LGBTQ+ stories and is just one of fifteen films in this shortlist currently available to watch on All 4.



4. Just Me



A close up of a person looking concerned. They wear a hoodie and have short hair.

Directed by Adam Tyler, Just Me looks at a couple on the verge of a breakup when one of them comes out as non-binary. Charlie and Jaz have been a young couple for three years when Jaz realises that they are non-binary which leads to a re-evaluation of their relationship with their cisgender partner. Although coming out stories are often criticised by those who feel we could be moving on in queer storytelling, the expressions and feelings of non-binary people are still largely absent from the queer film canon. Just Me is therefore a refreshing watch which is reinforced by the filmmaker’s choice to grant the protagonist self-acceptance. When Charlie, well intentionally wanting to understand better, asks if Jaz’s gender identity is “like a grey area”, Jaz replies “it’s all the colours”. Just Me is currently available to watch on All 4.



5. The Date



Two women sit at a restaurant dinner table across from each other. The women on the left wears a white blouse and is laughing while her face is in her hand. The woman on the right wears a red dress and smiles. On the table in between them are two glasses of red wine, a candle and dinner menus.

The Date follows Lizzy and Olivia who meet for their first date after initially chatting on an app together. From the giddiness of texting beforehand to the apprehension of waiting outside the meeting place, the film beautifully captures modern dating life. The filmmaker, Emmalie El Fadli cleverly uses her work to explore what online dating means specifically for queer women. The Date has a light rom-com energy as we follow the couple around a picturesque evening in London. Bathed in deep pinks and blues, they dance together in a late-night bar. Now is the perfect time to watch The Date as Emmalie El Fadli’s latest short film, From A to Q, will be premiering at BFI Flare next month in the “Into the Unknown” strand. Watch The Date now on Amazon Prime.

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