Rentals
LGBT Britain
This colourful and challenging collection explores screen representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives over the past century.
British cinema boasts a long history of carefully coded queerness, but for much of the 20th century explicit depictions of gay life in drama or documentary were more or less taboo. Gay men were subject to vicious state-sanctioned persecution, while lesbians were socially ostracised and the transgender community ignored and misunderstood. Cinematic and small-screen breakthroughs in the 1950s and 60s played their part in the public debate. Finally acting on the recommendations of the Wolfenden Committee a decade earlier, the 1967 Sexual Offences Act partially decriminalised male homosexuality in England and Wales, between two men over 21, in private. As those caveats suggest, the legislation remained problematic. But it was a step forward, paving the way for further battles - some yet to be won. From early glimpses of 'queer' characters, this collection charts the path towards '67 and beyond, through responses to the AIDS crisis to diverse reflections on queer life today.
The PassThe Pass
Drama201686 minsDirector: Ben A. Williams
Russell Tovey stars as a Premier League footballer who shares a fumbled pass (of the sexual kind) with a teammate (Arinzé Kene), changing everything - both on and off the pitch.
50 Years Legal50 Years Legal
Documentary201777 minsDirector: Simon Napier-Bell
Five decades on from the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, a range of LGBTQ+ stars (including Sir Elton John and Stephen Fry) reflect on Britain's history of prejudice, persecution and liberation.
The Book of GabrielleThe Book of Gabrielle
Drama201679 minsDirector: Lisa Gornick
Lisa Gornick's funny and frank drama sketches the relationship between a sex-obsessed lesbian illustrator and a randy hetero author, who bond over their favourite subject.
Wild FlowersWild Flowers
Romance198968 minsDirector: Robert Smith
Robert Smith's Wild Flowers is an exquisite drama set at the funeral for a daughter, where her mother remembers the passionate yet painful affair she once had with another woman in Scotland.
Entertaining Mr SloaneEntertaining Mr Sloane
Comedy197094 minsDirector: Douglas Hickox
Joe Orton’s delicious slice of suburban perversity, in which Beryl Reid’s lascivious landlady and her gay brother attempt to seduce their psychopathic tenant.
Entertaining Mr SloaneEntertaining Mr Sloane
196881 minsDirector: Peter Moffatt
Surprisingly risqué TV adaptation of one of Joe Orton’s best known plays, filmed shortly after his murder.
SebastianeSebastiane
Animation & Artists Moving Image197685 minsDirector: Derek Jarman and Paul Humfress
A distinctly bold and sensual reclaiming of gay history, Jarman here tells the sexually intense story of the 4th-century martyr.
JubileeJubilee
Drama1978106 minsDirector: Derek Jarman
The mythological past and a soon-to-be bleak future converge on the sparse, grey streets of London in Jarman’s personal vision of the punk movement.
The TempestThe Tempest
Drama198096 minsDirector: Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman’s brooding and darkly symbolic third feature is considered by some to be the most evocative Shakespeare adaptation ever to reach the screen.
CaravaggioCaravaggio
Biopic198693 minsDirector: Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman’s unique biopic of the 17th century Italian artist Michelangelo da Caravaggio is a powerful meditation on sexuality, criminality and art.
The Angelic ConversationThe Angelic Conversation
Animation & Artists Moving Image198581 minsDirector: Derek Jarman
The Angelic Conversation sees Derek Jarman conjure an evocative and radical visualisation of Shakespeare’s love poems. With narration by Judi Dench and music by Coil.
Derek Jarman: Life As ArtDerek Jarman: Life As Art
Documentary200460 minsDirector: Andy Kimpton-Nye
Documentary on the life and work of experimental filmmaker, who died in 1994. Contributors including Tilda Swinton recall Jarman's peculiar genius.
A Bit of ScarletA Bit of Scarlet
Documentary199671 minsDirector: Andrea Weiss
Mapping how British film and TV depicts the gay and lesbian lifestyle, Andrea Weiss raids the archives for her funny and persuasive documentary.
BabyBaby
Drama200012 minsDirector: Wiz
A teenager (Ben Whishaw) pays a sexually charged visit to the swimming pool.
The Chocolate AcrobatThe Chocolate Acrobat
Fantasy199538 minsDirector: Tessa Sheridan
An elderly woman in a care home strikes up a sensual, nostalgic relationship with a young nurse.
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis BaconLove Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
Biopic199887 minsDirector: John Maybury
Derek Jacobi and Daniel Craig star as artist Francis Bacon and his muse George Dyer in John Maybury’s darkly exquisite biopic.
OrlandoOrlando
Fantasy199393 minsDirector: Sally Potter
Tilda Swinton stars in Sally Potter's dazzling interpretation of Virginia Woolf's novel.
PridePride
Comedy2014120 minsDirector: Matthew Warchus
The smash culture-clash comedy tells the incredible true story of how miners and a Gay Pride support group come together to fight a common cause.
WeekendWeekend
Drama201197 minsDirector: Andrew Haigh
Andrew Haigh's internationally acclaimed tale of a brief encounter between two gay men.
LiltingLilting
Drama201486 minsDirector: Hong Khaou
Ben Whishaw stars in an intimate portrait of two strangers brought together by the common language of grief.
LesbiansLesbians
Current affairs196526 minsDirector: John Phillips
What is lesbianism? What causes it? ITV's This Week attempts to demystify lesbian sexuality.
LootLoot
Comedy1971102 minsDirector: Silvio Narizzano
Silvio Narizzano adapts Joe Orton’s extraordinarily funny satire on police corruption and the conventions of detective fiction.
3 Steps to Heaven3 Steps to Heaven
Drama199587 minsDirector: Constantine Giannaris
Edgy mixture of black comedy and urban drama about a woman uncovering the hidden truths about her dead lover.
Yellow FeverYellow Fever
Comedy199827 minsDirector: Raymond Yeung
A gay British-Chinese man refuses to date Chinese men. But then Jai Ming moves in next door.
ChemsexChemsex
Documentary201580 minsDirector: William Fairman and Max Gogarty
A hard-hitting and often graphic documentary about the 'chemsex' sub-scene in London’s gay community.
Greek PeteGreek Pete
Drama200970 minsDirector: Andrew Haigh
Acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (Weekend, 45 Years) made his feature debut with this bold, sexually explicit drama-documentary about London rent boys.
One in FiveOne in Five
198252 minsSilentDirector: Ken Howard
Endearingly right-on concoction bringing together lesbians and gay men for dancing and debate at Heaven nightclub
Dressed as a GirlDressed as a Girl
Documentary2015101 minsDirector: Colin Rothbart
An in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at London’s finest drag performers. Warning: extreme use of make-up and glitter.
Madagascar SkinMadagascar Skin
Drama199591 minsDirector: Christopher Newby
John Hannah stars as a painfully shy gay man who escapes the city in Chris Newby’s extraordinary second feature.
The ComedianThe Comedian
Drama201379 minsDirector: Tom Shkolnik
Touching drama about a thirtysomething comedian looking for happiness.
DepartureDeparture
Drama2016108 minsDirector: Andrew Steggall
Andrew Steggall’s deft and delicate drama about a teenage dreamer who falls for the rough beauty of a local boy while staying in France.
More than a JourneyMore than a Journey
198652 minsDirector: Caroline Mylon
From Sudan to the Greek islands via the East Midlands - a young gay woman seeks love, happiness and fulfilment
Tall Dark StrangerTall Dark Stranger
198648 minsDirector: Paul Oremland
Are you ready to strut your stuff? Take a bracing, sexy cruise around the diverse 1980s gay scene.
A Boy Called MaryA Boy Called Mary
198652 minsDirector: Paul Oremland
The fabulous life and times of queer writer Kris Kirk, who became one of the UK’s most influential music journalists.
Tides of LaughterTides of Laughter
198649 minsDirector: Paul Oremland
A female ‘end-of-the-pier’ double act find out a surprising secret about their landlady - and about each other.
Remembrance of Things FastRemembrance of Things Fast
Animation & Artists Moving Image199362 minsDirector: John Maybury
John Maybury’s dark, queer state of the nation film starring Tilda Swinton and Rupert Everett
Andy the Furniture MakerAndy the Furniture Maker
198653 minsDirector: Paul Oremland
How did a cute, gay Essex boy go from oyster fishing to becoming the toast of the London arts scene?
HomosexualsHomosexuals
Current affairs196423 minsDirector: James Butler
Current affairs series This Week offers a non-judgmental report on homosexuality
ClosetsClosets
Science Fiction201518 minsDirector: Lloyd Eyre-Morgan
Tommy Knight (The Sarah Jane Adventures, Waterloo Road, Young Victoria) stars in this light-hearted drama as Henry, a teenager struggling with his sexuality in 1986.
The Crying GameThe Crying Game
Drama1992112 minsDirector: Neil Jordan
Neil Jordan's acclaimed 1992 drama-mystery tells the story of Fergus (Stephen Rea), who looks after the lover (Jaye Davidson) of a British soldier he once knew. But what is Dil hiding?
Beautiful ThingBeautiful Thing
Comedy199691 minsDirector: Hettie Macdonald
Hettie MacDonald’s 1996 comedy tells the story of two classmates and neighbours (Glen Berry, Scott Neal) who fall in love over one summer in South East London.
The L-shaped RoomThe L-shaped Room
Drama1962126 minsDirector: Bryan Forbes
Bryan Forbes directs the Oscar-nominated story of a French woman (Leslie Caron) moving to London while unmarried, pregnant, and alone.
WittgensteinWittgenstein
Biopic199372 minsDirector: Derek Jarman
Written for Channel 4 by radical literary theorist Terry Eagleton and directed by Derek Jarman, Wittgenstein is a bold, offbeat biography, exploring the politics and sexuality of the great, troubled philosopher.
Boys and Girls TogetherBoys and Girls Together
Sex comedy197955 minsDirector: Ralph Lawrence Marsden
Extraordinary 1970s sexploitation film, groundbreaking in its portrayal of interracial and homosexual sex.
ScrubbersScrubbers
Drama198293 minsDirector: Mai Zetterling
The borstal drama – billed as the female Scum – features Amanda York and Kathy Burke as inmates of a ruthless women’s prison.
More LGBT Britain films in our Subscription collection.
More LGBT Britain films in our Free collection.
More related films in our Rentals collection, BFI Flare Presents