If Bridgerton and Wuthering Heights have got you in the mood for period dramas, then the upcoming Madfabulous is one you’ll want to look out for. Inspired by a true story, the quirky film is based on the life of Henry Cyril Paget, the dancing Marquess of Anglesey.
Ahead of its release in UK cinemas on 5 June, Madfabulous has been confirmed to hold its world premiere at the 40th edition of the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, which runs at the BFI Southbank from 18-29 March.
Directed by Celyn Jones and written by Lisa Baker, the cast includes It’s A Sin’s Callum Scott Howells in the lead role of Henry Cyril Paget, alongside Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes, Sherlock’s Louise Brealey, Derry Girls and The Traitors Ireland star Siobhán McSweeney, The Gentlemen’s Tom Rhys Harries and Rupert Everett.
Madfabulous has been described as a “riotous, uncompromising celebration of otherness”, with the action following Henry as he arrives in 1890s North Wales from France to claim his aristocratic inheritance.
Henry’s theatrical flair and defiant eccentricities ruffle the upper-class elite as, alongside his cousin Lily (Stokes) and butler Gelert (Everett), he attempts to carve out his own identity as the Fifth Marquess while dealing with the long shadow cast by his estranged father.
BFI Flare
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Madfabulous is one of 31 world premieres at this year’s BFI Flare, which will showcase 65 features and 62 shorts from 47 countries. Tickets go on sale for BFI Members on Tuesday 24 February, and on general sale from Thursday 26 February.
Other highlights at this year’s festival include a BFI Flare Screen Talk with Russell T Davies to discuss his acclaimed career and upcoming Channel 4 show Tip Toe, while the festival opens with the world premiere of documentary Hunky Jesus and closes with the UK premiere of romance Black Burns Fast.
Mad as Birds
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Talking previously about Madfabulous, Howells said: “It is a real honour to be portraying Henry in this great story about the man and everything he represented.
“He is such a fascinating character; truly a rebel ahead of his time and has been inspiration to many artists throughout the years.”
Madfabulous receives its world premiere at BFI Flare, which runs 18-29 March, and will be released in UK cinemas on 5 June.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy  Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor.  Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world.   After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
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