LezDiff

So many fabulous people made LezDiff a resounding success last weekend. Thanks again to Emma Kwaya-James and Laura Martin-Simpson from the USW EDI team, Gwyneth Moore Head of Film & TV who funded it (and also to Bad Wolf TV studios), all the amazing volunteers, all the participants and all the punters. What a wonderful time we all had!

LezDiff Day 2 - we watched and discussed the controversial film 'The Killing Of Sister George' - Norena Shopland's talk was fascinating, as were the reminiscences of Jane Traies and Chris Moreno. Then we watched a clutch of animations, an experimental short and my feature doc. I missed most of the discussion for that as the sound went kaput for about half an hour but the amazing Kate Jessop, Lois Norman, Efa Blosse-Mason and Greer Ralston held the fort and did most of the discussion about animation and art while I ran around trying to fix it (along with a lot of help from our lovely festival volunteers). And then finally the choir event Songbirds Choir Cardiff and Cardiff Trans Singers - what a treat. A lovely way to celebrate LezDiff and welcome in the new student led event TransDiff the following day! What a rich, fun and stimulating time.

LezDiff 2026 - DAY 1. Can't quite believe it came and went! I think this might have been my favourite LezDiff yet. Wonderful keynote speech from Lisa Power, LGBTQ+ activist and co-founder of Stonewall (about whom I am currently making a feature length documentary). And lovely words from Gwyneth Moore Head of Film & TV at USW and Emma Kwaya-James USW Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager - who also cut the LezDiff Cake!

Then the fabulous short film programme with films by more established filmmakers exploring the past and then a selection of films by emerging voices followed by a Q&A hosted by Tracy Spottiswoode of Ffilm Cymru Wales. I was proud as punch of my two groups of students that participated.

Thanks to all who were there in whatever capacity!

(Keep an eye out for the next batch of photos celebrating day 2!)

2️⃣DAYS TO GO! LEZDIFF 2026 IS GOING TO BE EPIC! 🕺🏼📽️🍿🎶👩🏻‍🎤 JOIN US ON 30th & 31st JANUARY FOR TWO DAYS OF FILM, HISTORY, ART, MOVEMENT & MUSIC! 💖💖🌈

BOX OFFICE LINK: www.ticketsource.co.uk/lezdiff-cardiff-international-le***an-film-arts-festival-daxitales-ltd

Our Opening Ceremony for LezDiff is going to be fabulous.

We are very excited that we have Lisa Power (co-founder of Stonewall and the Pink Paper) doing our main speech, as well as representatives from LezDiff and the University.

This event is FREE! And we also have FREE CAKE (vegan and gluten free alternative available!)

Join us at 2.30pm on Friday 30th January 2026 in the Atrium Foyer, Cardiff!

For more information about LezDiff visit www.lezdiff.org

Join us at Atrium Cinema (USW, Cardiff) at 6.30pm on Friday 30th January for deeply dramatic and moving feature film 'Carmen & Lola'.

Grab your tickets now!

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lezdiff-cardiff-international-le***an-film-arts-festival-daxitales-ltd/event-3-fiction-feature-film-carmen-lola-2018/2026-01-30/18:30/t-kdrmkmq

[Please note that LezDiff always has been and always will be a Trans Inclusive festival.]

LezDiff - Cardiff International Le***an Film and Arts Festival - LezDiff

LezDiff is proud to be holding a fabulous ‘segue event’ with the new ‘TransDiff’ festival. Join us at 6.30pm on Saturday 31st January in the Theatre at Atrium, University Of South Wales, Cardiff for this lovely concert. We have Songbirds - Cardiff’s LGBTQ Women, Trans & Non-Binary Choir joining forces with Cardiff Trans Singers and it’s going to absolutely lovely!

Let’s celebrate a successful LezDiff and herald in the new TransDiff together!! 🎶🎵🎤👩🏻‍🎤👨🏻‍🎤🧑‍🎤🌅🏳️‍🌈⚧️🏳️‍⚧️💖 🌈

TICKET LINK: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cardiff/the-atrium-theatre-university-of-south-wales/event-7-singing-our-hearts-out-songbirds-choir-cardiff-trans-singers/e-grqrvv

LezDiff - Cardiff International Le***an Film and Arts Festival - LezDiff

LezDiff is excited to support this fabulous wellness and movement workshop run by Dr Thania Acarón.

9:15am-10:45am, Saturday 31st January, Atrium Theatre, University Of South Wales, Cardiff.

‘Celebrating Queerness and Menopause – Movement Wellness Workshop’

A fun and interactive workshop to develop your body confidence and connect to others through movement in a LGBTQ+ safe space. This workshop is part of an Arts Council Wales funded pilot called MenoMove UK looking at how we can support menopausal symptoms and experiences by using movement and engaging with creativity. You will have the space to reflect on the themes of the festival and celebrate our q***rness through fun activities with others and expressing our solidarity and community through the arts.

All activities are designed for all abilities, are exploratory in nature and you can adjust them to your own comfort level in a safe, non-judgmental space. No prior experience in movement is necessary, just bring some comfortable clothes, curiosity, and openness.

Grab your tickets now https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cardiff/the-atrium-university-of-south-wales-theatre/event-4-celebrating-q***rness-and-menopause-movement-wellness-workshop/e-qgkvvx

For more information visit www.lezdiff.org

3.30pm – 6.00pm, Saturday 31st January, Atrium CINEMA USW!

‘Drawn By You’
How do fine art and animation contribute to le***an, bis*xual and q***r women’s representation?

Animated & Live Action Shorts + Documentary Feature + Discussion.

Animated Shorts by: Kate Jessop, Sari Katharyn, Matea Kovac, Efa Blosse-Mason & Sofie Marsh.
Short live action art film by Lois Norman.
And feature documentary: Greer Ralston - Giving It All To Art by Rachel Dax

Panel guests: Greer Ralston, Lois Norman, Efa Blosse-Mason and Kate Jessop

And an opportunity to buy some original art by Greer Ralston after the event!

Get your tickets now: the films are brilliant and the discussion will be fascinating! https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/pabzjzzgkygx

LezDiff - Cardiff International Le***an Film and Arts Festival - LezDiff

The Killing of Sister George is famous or perhaps infamous for its raw depiction of le***an s*xuality, life and s*x itself in late 1960s UK.

Controversially, some scenes were shot in the iconic ‘The Gateways Club’ with real le***ans enjoying what, until then, had been a very private q***r space. The film accidently(?) ‘outed’ dozens of women, yet at the same time, it showed closeted le***an and bis*xual women all over the UK that a place existed where they could be free.

The depiction of le***anism in the film is not particularly favourable, but nonetheless it marked a turning point in le***an visibility and changed some people’s lives for the good.

Historian Norena Shopland will be giving a talk about the wide range of reactions to this ground-breaking but problematic le***an film. And then will be interviewing Jane Traies & Chris Moreno who saw the film in the cinema when it was released in 1968.

There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions! We are expecting a very lively discussion!

Grab your tickets now! https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cardiff/the-atrium-university-of-south-wales-cinema-cab205/event-5-should-we-kill-sister-george-feature-film-discussion/e-grokrm

Our first set of screenings for LezDiff 2026 kick off with a rich and diverse short film programme.

In the first half ‘Looking Back’ we delve into the past, exploring stories from the UK and across the world about le***an, bis*xual & q***r women fighting for the right to love who they love and desire who they desire.

Then in the second half ‘Looking Forward’ we celebrate the work of emerging filmmakers telling stories about life now set in the UK. This will be followed by a Q&A.

Ticket links: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cardiff/the-atrium-university-of-south-wales-cinema-cab205/event-2-short-film-programme-looking-back-and-looking-forward/e-adxodx

Further info about the event: https://lezdiff.org/lezdiff-2026-programme/

Please note that LezDiff always has been and always will be a safe space Trans and Non-Binary folk.

LezDiff - Cardiff International Le***an Film and Arts Festival - LezDiff