Immodest Acts

The sacred meets the profane in this collection of shorts that explore the intersections and, more often, the collisions of faith, identity, religion and queer desire.

Screening dates and booking

Check which tickets are still available across the festival – and find out about extra ticket releases and standby queues.

Credits

  • Total running time

    86min

  • Programmed by

    Diana Cipriano

  • Content advice

    This short film programme contains flashing images, and homophobic attitudes and language.

Sunday Lunch

  • Director

    Lyndon Henley Hanrahan

  • UK 2025. 14min

  • Language

    English

When Grace brings her girlfriend for lunch with her Catholic family, she’ll find herself hilariously tiptoeing around a minefield of family dynamics.

Nest

  • Director

    Stefania Burla

  • Switzerland 2025. 20min

  • Languages

    Swiss, German
    With English subtitles

On the night before a religious procession, an introverted 15-year-old has an illuminating, life-changing encounter with another girl.

Nice Jewish Girl

  • Director

    Carly Brand

  • Australia 2025. 10min

  • Language

    English

Tali thought she liked boys. But when unexpected feelings start bubbling up at religious camp, she begins to question everything.

Saints

Sante

  • Director

    Valeria Gaudieri

  • Italy 2025. 19min

  • Language

    Italian
    With English subtitles

Altar girl Bianca, who is due to play a Saint in a festivity, has an existential crisis after sharing a kiss with a girl – her desire a stark contrast to her devotion.

Spiders On My Lashline

  • Director

    Grace Tan

  • Australia 2026. 8min

  • Language

    English

  • Content advice

    Contains homophobic attitudes and language.
    Contains flashing images.

After being attacked, genderqueer pole dancer Ash seeks refuge in a church. Flooded by core memories of childhood, they will regain their strength.

Tumtum

  • Director

    Rebecca Ozer

  • UK 2025. 15min

  • Language

    English

  • Content advice

    Contains flashing images.

Alex, non-binary and Jewish, struggles with desire and living out their identity after meeting a fiery, cute girl on Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the year.

How to book

BFI Flare tickets start from £10, with concessions available for many screenings and discounts for BFI Members. Booking information and ticket prices.

If you’re aged 16 to 25, sign up for free to BFI 25 and Under for a chance to get £6 tickets to all screenings and events (subject to availability).

Missed out?

More tickets may become available for these screenings before and during the festival. Find out about extra ticket releases and standby queues.

Our programmers recommend...

Hunky Jesus

Hail Marys! A front-row seat awaits at the annual Easter pageant to find San Francisco’s hottest holy figures, enshrining LGBTQIA+ rights to boot.

Read more about Hunky Jesus

Impure Nuns

This transgressive 1950s treasure, previously unseen outside of Japan, chronicles an affair between two nuns at a boarding school.

Read more about Impure Nuns

Little Trouble Girls

A Slovenian catholic girl navigates the exhilaration and confusion of first desire in this sensorial, sensitive and sublime coming-of-age feature debut.

Read more about Little Trouble Girls