The 39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival will kick off with the international premiere of “The Wedding Banquet,” featuring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran. Directed by Andrew Ahn, the dramedy will be showcased at the festival’s opening night gala from Mar. 19-30.
The star-studded cast also includes Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, and Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung. Co-written by Ahn and James Schamus, the film follows Angela and her partner Lee as they navigate IVF treatments and financial struggles. When their friend Min proposes a green card marriage in exchange for funding Lee’s IVF, their plans for a quiet elopement are disrupted by Min’s traditional grandmother from Korea.
Director Ahn expressed his excitement for the international premiere at BFI Flare, praising the festival for celebrating queer talent and cinema legacy. The full program for BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival will be revealed on Feb. 18.