Launched in September 2023 at Genesis Cinema in East London, One Fluid Night (OFN) is a groundbreaking film event that presents a competition of short films alongside performances by singers, dancers, and cabaret artists, all celebrating the multifaceted themes of life, love, and identity through the lens of international LGBTQIA+ cinema.

After a successful year as a bi-monthly event, OFN is evolving into the OFN LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL: a full weekend celebration of queer cinema featuring not just shorts but also feature films and documentaries. Running from November 15-17, this edition will take place in the heart of queer London, with screenings at Curzon Soho and Courthouse Hotel Cinema and after-parties at Louche Soho, The Yard, and Soho Theatre.

This year marks the first inclusion of feature films, alongside the largest selection of shorts yet: 12 features and 113 shorts from 34 countries, all representing LGBTQIA+ stories. The OFN awards, central to the festival, will recognize queer filmmakers with a total of 18 categories judged by an international panel.

Jurors include figures like Anca Vaida (BAFTA Connect member), Branko Tomovic (actor/director), and David Martinez (Executive Director of the Raindance Film Festival).

OFN founder Lex Melony emphasises the importance of delivering diverse, high-quality content while providing a platform for international queer filmmakers: “I aim to create an inclusive space where One Fluid Night becomes a universe that connects and promotes creativity across all spectrums.”

Opening Gala Feature: What a Feeling (dir: Kat Roher, Austria)

Marie Theres, a successful doctor, plans a special anniversary celebration, but when her husband breaks up with her, she finds herself at a queer bar, where she meets the spontaneous Fa. This romantic comedy explores the unexpected connection between two middle-aged women who refuse to be sidelined.

Documentary Features (all screening online)

• Fabulous Femininities (dir: Jonothon Lees, UK) delves into the empowering world of burlesque.
• Warm Film (dir: Dragon Jovicevic, Serbia) follows young actors grappling with the implications of starring in a film featuring homosexual love scenes.
• Breaking Taboos with Love (dir: Akshay N Rao, India) chronicles Gourav and Kahran’s mission to challenge societal norms through their love story against the backdrop of an unrecognized same-sex marriage.
• What Was Your Previous Name? (dir: Iban Pàmies et al., Spain) provides a humorous glimpse into the lives of trans individuals and their transition processes.
• Tens Across the Board (dir: Bobby “Broady” Best, USA) examines the global phenomenon of ballroom culture.
• The Flag (dir: Miha Mohorič, Slovenia) intimately portrays the lives of eight LGBTQ+ individuals in Slovenia.

Shorts Programmes

• Journeys includes documentaries like I Am Michelle (Ukraine) and Seahorse Parents (Netherlands).
• Heartbeat V1 showcases romantic tales like Pehli Date (India) and Phonetime (UK).
• Ethereal features shorts like Borrowed Time (UK) and Where Are All The Gay Superheroes? (UK).
• Mix Bits presents a diverse array of Web TV pilots, music videos, and student shorts.
• Crossing the Edge stimulates various emotions with a mix of horror and eroticism.

This edition of OFN will be a vibrant celebration of queer cinema, bringing a community of creativity and connection.

You can get your tickets here.

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