Celebrate diverse LGBTQIA+ voices from around the world through this free screening of Five Films For Freedom. 

Celebrating Global LGBTQIA+ Storytelling 

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery is proud to host Five Films For Freedom, the British Council’s annual programme of international short films that uplift LGBTQIA+ communities.  

Each year, five films from the BFI Flare programme are shared with audiences around the world, offering powerful stories and fresh perspectives. 

This year the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific has coordinated over 20 in-person screenings across New Zealand and in Fiji, including right here in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. 

About the Films 

The 2026 selection brings together filmmakers from the United Kingdom, Mexico, the United States, France, Vietnam, and Brazil. Each film explores themes of identity, resilience, tenderness, and the courage to live authentically. 

I Hate Helen (UK). Directed by Katie Lambert. 

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 (USA/Mexico). Directed by Amy Adler. 

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 (France). Directed by Laurie Bisceglia. 

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) (Vietnam). Directed by Edward Nguyen. 

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 (Brazil). Directed by Monica Palazzo & Joana Galvão. 

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.