Out Laws Film | Colonial Laws, Queer Resilience & BFI Flare 2026

In this episode of 1946: The Culture Shift Tour – UK, we sit down with James Lewis and Lexi Powner, the filmmakers behind Out Laws, a groundbreaking documentary exploring the global impact of colonial anti-LGBTQ laws.   We’re celebrating Out Laws being officially selected for BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2026.

The film follows activist litigants challenging criminalization laws across Namibia, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean — laws that trace back to British colonial legislation from 1533.

We discuss:

• Colonial legacy and LGBTQ criminalization

• Resilience in the face of violence

• Immigration and asylum challenges

• Conversion therapy legislation in the UK

• The role of the Church of England

• Trans rights and political scapegoating

• Documentary filmmaking as activism

Learn more about Out Laws:

https://OutlawsFilm.com

BFI Flare Festival:

https://www.bfi.org.uk/flare

Watch 1946:

https://www.1946themovie.com

🎬 FILM & FESTIVAL

Out Laws (Official Site)

https://outlawsfilm.com

Out Laws Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/outlawsfilm

BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival

https://www.bfi.org.uk/flare

British Film Institute (BFI)

https://www.bfi.org.uk

🎥 PRODUCTION COMPANY

The Good Side (James Lewis’ company)

https://thegoodside.co.uk

🏳️‍🌈 HUMAN RIGHTS & ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS

Human Dignity Trust

(Works to decriminalise LGBTQ+ people globally)

https://www.humandignitytrust.org

Kaleidoscope Trust

(UK-based LGBTQ+ human rights charity)

https://www.kaleidoscopetrust.com

UK Black Pride

https://www.ukblackpride.org.uk

OPAL (Organisation for Refuge, Asylum & Migration Support)

https://www.opal.org.uk

(If confirming exact group name from film credits, double-check spelling before publishing)

⚖️ POLITICAL & LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT (Mentioned in Discussion)

UK Parliament

https://www.parliament.uk

Labour Party UK

https://labour.org.uk

Reform UK

https://www.reformparty.uk

⛪ RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

Church of England

https://www.churchofengland.org

Archbishop of Canterbury

https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

🌍 HISTORICAL CONTEXT

UK Parliamentary Archives

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives

(Reference to 1533 Buggery Act under Henry VIII)

🎬 1946 PROJECT LINKS

1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture

https://www.1946themovie.com

🎟️ HOW TO WATCH OUT LAWS AT BFI FLARE 2026

BFI Flare Festival Page:

https://www.bfi.org.uk/flare

BFI Ticketing Portal:

https://whatson.bfi.org.uk