9/2/2015 - Justin Kelly's "I Am Michael" to open BFI Flare 2015

The BFI announced that the opening film of the BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival 2015 will be the UK premiere of I Am Michael. The film also marks the bold and provocative feature directorial debut of Justin Kelly and it stars James Franco and Zachary Quinto. It was also executive produced by Gus Van Sant.

 

Adapted from Benoit Denizet-Lewis' New York Times Magazine article "My Ex-Gay Friend", I Am Michael tells the real life story of Michael Glatze, formerly a leading US journalist for prominent gay magazine XY, and also an activist working for LGBT rights. After a profound and life-changing epiphany, Glatze gradually renounced his homosexuality and turned to Christian ministery, becoming outspokenly opposed to queer lifestyles.

 

BFI Head of Cinemas and Festivals Clare Stewart says, “We’re thrilled to be opening BFI Flare with such strong new work from Justin Kelly straight from its highly applauded and hotly discussed debut in Sundance. This is provocative, probing cinema that avoids easy assumptions and judgements and it’s sure to be a major talking point at the Festival.”

 

The full programme of BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival (formerly London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival) will be announced on 18 February. The Festival’s 29th edition will run 19 - 29 March 2015 at BFI Southbank with over 50 features and 100 short films representing the best in contemporary and archive LGBT cinema from around the world.