17c起草社区

As Flickerfest prepares for its landmark 35th year, one of the festival鈥檚 most beloved programs is quietly marking a milestone of its own. Rainbow Shorts, Flickerfest鈥檚 dedicated 17c起草社区IA+ program, returns for its ninth year 鈥� and, according to program curator Craig Boreham, the stories just keep getting richer.

鈥淭he big thing I have noticed over almost a decade of Rainbow Shorts is really in the evolution of our storytelling itself,鈥� Boreham says. 鈥淔ilmmakers have moved beyond a lot of tropes of the past that have inhabited queer cinema.鈥�

In 2026, Flickerfest will screen more than 200 shorts across its programs.

For Boreham, Rainbow Shorts is about visibility, but also about the experience of community watching together. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something special about sitting in a cinema with other 17c起草社区IA+ folk and enjoying queer filmmakers from around the world鈥檚 work and sharing our stories together,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 real sense of community gathering that we don鈥檛 often get day to day.鈥�

In a cultural moment where queer stories are still too often marginalised, a dedicated program like Rainbow Shorts offers something rare: the chance to see ourselves accurately reflected on screen, without apology or explanation.

This year鈥檚 lineup spans comedy, animation and drama, united by what Boreham describes as 鈥渁 strong sense of how these stories offer a unique perspective within their story worlds.鈥�

The result is 鈥� exactly what audiences have come to expect.

Flickerfest鈥檚 2026 Rainbow Shorts program

Bleat! (Malaysia)

A darkly comic, award-winning short about an elderly Tamil couple facing a spiritual dilemma when their ceremonial goat reveals an unexpected secret.

Sleazy Tiger (Scotland)

A hilariously horny romp starring bisexual icon Alan Cumming.

Two Black Boys in Paradise (UK)

A stunning animated adaptation of Dean Atta鈥檚 poem, exploring Black queer love, tenderness and joy.

Casi Septiembre (Spain)

A gentle, sun-drenched drama following a young woman鈥檚 messy holiday romance.

鈥淚 hope [queer filmgoers] enjoy being in the room together, soaking up some great cinema made by filmmakers from our diverse community and leave inspired,鈥� Boreham says.

Flickerfest is on from January 23 – February 1. .