The London International Animation Festival 2025
QUEER SHORTS + filmmaker discussion (15+)
Still from ‘A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian’ Dir: A j Dubler, Carmela Murphy 7'55
Doors: 8.30pm
Join us for a programme of short animated films that celebrate queer lives, loves, and imaginations. Animation lets us bend reality, dream big, and tell stories in ways words alone can’t. These films come from a range of queer voices and perspectives, each offering a glimpse into experiences that are tender, joyful, bold, funny and beautifully diverse. Together, these films remind us that animation is not just entertainment, but a medium for visibility, resistance, and imagination. Whether they feel close to your own story or open a window into something new, this screening is about connection, creativity, and celebration. Come with curiosity and an open heart - we can’t wait to share these vibrant queer visions with you.
After the screening some of the filmmakers will take to the stage for a conversation moderated by filmmaker and curator Kate Jessop. Panel lineup to be announced soon!
Total running time: 110 mins (80 mins + 30 mins screentalk)
Films:
Queerer than thou
Who is the queerest of them all? This queer off will reveal all!
UK 2019 Dir: Kate Jessop 2'25
You Are Not Part of the Cake
A girl, Ping, faces conflict with her girlfriend Lala's homophobic and aggressive father, The Man. As tensions escalate, Ping is forced to take drastic action to save herself and kills The Man.
Taiwan 2025 Dir: Ting-Jui Chen 4'30
A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian
After a mysterious girl shows up at Gray's doorstep holding the corpse of a bird that had just cracked her window, an impromptu bird funeral changes the way Gray views herself and her lesbian identity.
USA 2024 Dir: A j Dubler, Carmela Murphy 7'55
Adorable
A surreal observation of modern queer society.
UK 2018 Dir: Cheng Hsu-Chung 5'30
Hora
Animated documentary about the habit of holding hands among gay men in the city of Tel Aviv.
Israel 2014 Dir: Yoav Brill 9'25
How to Build a Sand Castle
A tender, hand-painted metaphor for shedding shame and the journey of queer self discovery.
Ecuador, UK 2025 Dir: Nour Khamis 4'20
Mis-Angel
A love story between two people who will never meet. A transgender girl explores an overlap of gender and sexual fantasy as she recalls a brief interaction with a stranger at a bus stop.
UK, USA 2025 Dir: Wyatt Carson 5'25
Hey Dad
I’ve practiced these words for 20 years now, but maybe being candid isn’t the best idea. I’m starting my countdown again, another 20 years. Maybe it might be the right time by then.
Taiwan, UK 2024 Dir: Weifan Wang 5'35
I Love Hooligans
A football hooligan feels unconditional love for his club. However, being gay, he has to hide his identity in order to survive in this world that is so precious to him.
Netherlands 2013 Dir: Jan-Dirk Bouw 13’00
I Am a Flower
Deviant artist Sam, on the verge of fully transforming into a flower, spends one final day at a flower spa with their mother.
Germany, Indonesia 2024 Dir: Ariel Victor Arthanto 13'10
Hide and Seek
The story of a person hiding their queer identity from their parents at different stages of life, highlighting the struggles faced by the queer community as they grow up.
UK 2024 Dir: Junjie Xu 6'00
Still from ‘I Love Hooligans’ Dir: Jan-Dirk Bouw 13’00
The London International Animation Festival (LIAF 2025) - the UK’s largest and longest-running animation festival is back with 10 days of amazing screenings, talks, discussions and events from November 28 to December 7. We are delighted that LIAF is once again returning to the Horse Hospital for 4 nights and 9 extra special screenings - with several visiting local and international animators attending to talk and introduce their films.
The full festival programme is available at https://liaf.org.uk/
