Five Films For Freedom is the world’s largest and farthest‑reaching LGBTQIA+ online celebration. Join local queer writer/director Stevie Goodwin who will host the event for Screen Hawke’s Bay.

In partnership with the British Council, BFI Flare and London’s LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, this global initiative showcases five international LGBTQIA+ short films, available to watch online anywhere in the world, and at select free public screenings.

Since launching in 2015, the programme has reached more than 26 million viewers across over 202 countries and principalities, sharing powerful stories that celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide.

Screen Hawke’s Bay is proud to host this free public screening in collaboration with the British Council, New Zealand and the Pacific. This year’s films come from Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, the USA/Mexico, and Vietnam, offering a vibrant snapshot of queer storytelling across the globe.

This year’s selections are:

I HATE HELEN (Dir. Katie Lambert, UK, 7 min) PG
Priya hates Helen. She hates her in the canteen. Hates her in science. Especially hates her at swimming. Mostly, Priya hates the way Helen makes her feel. A short film about the tidal wave of gay lust some girls feel in school and letting those feelings just wash over you.

RAG DOLLS (Dir. Amy Adler, USA / Mexico, 12 min) – exempt
Married couple Rosalinda (born with spina bifida) and Diana (who has cerebral palsy) navigate life in Puebla, Mexico, where disability intersects with discrimination and poverty. Abandoned by family, underserved by government support systems, and facing persistent homophobia, the women have built a life centred on mutual care and protection. Observing a single ordinary day, the film follows their routines, a romantic date, and moments of reflection on their enduring love.

ROOM 206 (Dir. Laurie Bisceglia, 16 min, France) – exempt
After undergoing gender-affirming surgery, Clair no longer cares what the world thinks. Reclaiming his body becomes a path toward self-recognition for the first time in his life. This documentary accompanies him not only through physical change, but towards emotional renewal and a new beginning.

SWEAT (Mô Hôi) (Dir. Edward Nguyen, Vietnam, 15 min) PG
On the eve of leaving rural Vietnam, farm worker Hung prepares to illegally cross the border in search of refuge abroad. Defined by routine and labour, his final day with Hoang, a fellow worker, reshapes his understanding of desire, intimacy and selfhood.

THEO (Dir. Monica Palazzo & Joana Galvão, Brazil, 15 min) G
Brazil, 1986. During the World Cup, seven-year-old Theo quietly navigates school life while defying rigid gender expectations. Between silence and rebellion, they begin inventing their own way of existing.