Join us in Miami for a conversation on #fiveFilms4freedom and local activism in the LGBT community!
During October, which is LGBT History Month in the US, the British Council and partners across the US are organising screenings and panel discussions showcasing the #fiveFilms4Freedom digital campaign. fiveFilms4Freedom is the world's first and largest digital LGBT film festival, running now for 2 years across the world. fiveFilms4freedom is a social media campaign and partnership between the British Film Institute and the British Council to promote equality and diversity by encouraging people around the world to watch five short films from BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival.
On October 25, 2016, you will get the chance to see all five films featured in the digital campaign and hear from incredible speakers on LGBT issues, particularly issues related to the local aspects of LGBT activism. Please find the event details below, including more information on the films, fiveFilms4freedom and the speakers.
This screening event is delivered in partnership with FIU LGBTQA Initiatives; Robbins Global Innovations; World OutGames; Crabbie’s; and the UK government (the British Consulate-General Miami, the Love is GREAT Britain campaign).
This event is free and open to the public. Invite a friend or two to come along!
Event Details
Opening Remarks
- Dave Proger, British Consul-General in Florida, the USVI and Puerto Rico
- Hon. David Richardson, Florida House of Representatives (D)
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With SPECIAL GUEST Stuart Milk, Global LGBT activist & Founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation
Film screening: #fiveFilms4Freedom 2016 short films
Panel discussion
A conversation on #fiveFilms4freedom and local activism in the LGBT community
Moderator: Teresa Frontado, WLRN Public Radio & Television
Panelists:
- Siri Rodnes, Filmmaker
- Cindy Brown, Regional Development Officer, Equality Florida
- Herb Sosa, Executive Director, Unity Coalition
- Heather Wilkie, Zebra Coalition
- Carol Coombes, LGBT film industry leader and BFI graduate
- Ivan Cano, CEO, World Out Games
About the film screenings
A trailer of the films can be watched here. You can learn more about each filmmaker here.
Film |
Director |
Country |
Run time |
Breathe |
James Doherty |
UK and Ireland |
14 mins |
Swirl |
Peterson Varga |
Philippines |
4 mins |
The Orchid |
Ferran Navarro-Beltrán |
Spain |
3 mins |
Take your Partners |
Siri Rodnes |
Scotland |
14 mins |
Xavier |
Ricky Mastro |
Brazil |
14 mins |
About fivefilms4freedoM
In partnership with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the British Film Institute and the British Council, in 2016, five directors created five short films about contemporary LGBT life. From travelling communities to Easter bonnets to the wonderment of growing up, the five films tell a range of affecting stories about contemporary LGBT life in countries as diverse as Brazil, Ireland, Spain, the Philippines and the UK. During the month of March 2016 we made these five original LGBT films available everywhere, demonstrating and celebrating the values of human rights, promoting freedom and equality, provoking debate and promoting the rights of LGBT people around the world.
The 2016 digital campaign was highly successful. There were 1.57 million views of the films on Facebook and YouTube, with the films being viewed across 179 countries. Among the top countries in that list were countries in which LGBT rights are entirely lacking or seriously curtailed, including Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. The #fiveFilms4Freedom hashtag reach was 85.6 million and total web impressions were 54.9 million worldwide. The films have contributed to a growing global conversation that extends discussion about LGBT rights.