Between Worlds

Unearthly and chilling visions lie in the intersections between past and present, reality and imagination, and sleep and consciousness, in this selection of horror shorts.

Diana Cipriano

Total running time 96min

Content warning

This short film programme contains graphic violence, homophobic violence and distressing scenes.

Age rating 18+.

Screening dates and booking

Check all festival ticket availability – and don’t forget to try your luck with last-minute tickets on the day.

Blue Violet

  • Director

    Josie Charles

  • Screenwriter

    Esme Allen

  • UK 2024. 10min

  • Language

    English

Blue’s gift preparations for her beloved Violet transform into something darker when reality picks up the phone.

Next Door

Nebenan

  • Director-Screenwriter

    Lukas März

  • Germany 2024. 20min

  • Language

    German

    With English subtitles

A couple’s dream of moving in together turns into a nightmare when they discover an adjoining door with a chilling presence behind it.

Strawberry Shortcake

  • Director-Screenwriter

    Deborah Devyn Chuang

  • Taiwan 2024. 21min

  • Language

    Mandarin

    With English subtitles

Reality and dreamscape become increasingly blurred in an uncomfortable, Lynchian and violent Freudian loop for teenage Lolo and her mother.

The Hold

  • Director-Screenwriter

    Ashley Panton

  • UK 2025. 12min

  • Language

    English

After his hookup falls asleep, Nathan will face a long journey into morning trying to escape night terrors.

Close the Eye to See

Mắt Nhắm Mắt Mở

  • Director-Screenwriter

    Irving Ly

  • Vietnam-UK 2024. 33min

  • Language

    Vietnamese

    With English subtitles

A horrific, surrealist tale of young man plagued by nightmarish visions following the traumatic loss of his partner.

Festival guests

See the full list of festival guests in attendance at the 39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

Make a donation

Did you know BFI is a charity? Please consider making a donation to BFI Flare, the UK’s largest LGBTQIA+ film event. Find out more

Our programmers recommend...

Day Dreamers

Fantasies, hopes and visions of flying away – these films all focus on the people amongst us who spend their waking hours dreaming and desiring.

Read more about Day Dreamers

Ponyboi

An intersex sex worker’s life spins out of control over the course of one night, in this gripping, queer twist on the crime thriller.

Read more about Ponyboi

Karma’s a B*tch!

When revenge gets deliciously wicked… Six darkly comic shorts about those who take justice into their own hands – sometimes with deadly results.

Read more about Karma’s a B*tch!