Cardiff to host free global lgbtqia+ film showcase celebrating queer storytelling

Cardiff is set to welcome audiences for a free screening of international LGBTQIA+ short films on Tuesday 24 March, as part of the British Council’s global Five Films For Freedom initiative. The event, held at the University of South Wales Atrium and delivered in partnership with the Iris Prize—Cardiff’s internationally recognised LGBTQIA+ film festival—will spotlight queer stories from the UK, France and Brazil.

Attendees will be shown three films from this year’s programme: I Hate Helen (UK), Room 206 (France) and Theo (Brazil). The screenings will be followed by a panel chaired by Welsh comedian and writer Leila Navabi, featuring Michael Blyth from the British Council, actor and writer Leo Drayton, and I Hate Helen producer Rosie Brear. According to the British Council, the initiative—now in its 12th year—aims to share LGBTQIA+ stories globally, particularly in regions where queer visibility remains heavily restricted. Since launching in 2015, the project has reached viewers in more than 200 countries and garnered almost 29 million views.

The showcased films explore themes of queer desire, self-recognition and gender expression. Lambert’s I Hate Helen follows Priya, a teenager trying to make sense of her feelings for a classmate. Room 206, directed by Laurie Bisceglia, centres on Clair’s journey after gender‑affirming surgery. Theo, by Monica Palazzo and Joana Galvão, depicts a child quietly challenging rigid gender expectations in 1980s Brazil.

Berwyn Rowlands, director of the Iris Prize, described the project as a celebration of hope through global LGBTQIA+ storytelling, while Elena Schmitz of British Council Wales said events like this connect Welsh audiences with international queer creatives and amplify voices still marginalised in many parts of the world. The wider Five Films For Freedom festival runs online until 29 March via the British Council’s platforms and BFI Player, offering global access to all five featured films.

Tickets for the Cardiff event can be booked free here.

Find out more about Five Films for Freedom
The event expands access to queer stories and visibility, supporting global LGBTQIA+ representation at a time when many communities still face censorship and hostility.