She’s The He | Laugh-out-loud subversive gender-swap comedy celebrating its International Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival

The team behind new laugh-out-loud subversive gender-swap comedy, SHE’S THE HE, are excited to share that the film will be celebrating its International Premiere as part of the Official Selection at the BFI London Film Festival on 14th October.

Premiering in the Laugh strand at the festival, this much-needed take on the genre features a cast of largely trans, non-binary and queer actors. Ahead of the upcoming International Premiere at the festival, the BFI London Film Festival team have listed the film as “a proud middle finger to an age of transphobic panic.”

SHE’S THE HE was born as a love letter from trans debut feature filmmaker Siobhan McCarthy, who has dedicated the film to their younger self, all trans youth, and to anyone fighting against a world that tells them to be someone they’re not.

This is a movie by trans people, for trans people and allows for an exciting, radical view of trans representation both in front of and behind the camera. The film employed an unprecedented number of trans department heads and actors to play both cis and trans roles, alongside its trans writer-director McCarthy. This has allowed the team to highlight the film’s key message – that Trans joy has always existed, and it will always exist.

The film features standout performances from its two leading players, debut Nico Carney & Misha Osherovich (Freaky). It also showcases an outstanding supporting cast, including Suzanne Cryer (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), Malia Pyles (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), Mark Indelicato (Ugly Betty), Emmett Preciado (Good Trouble), Tatiana Ringsby, Aparna Nancherla, and Kyle Butenhoff (9-1-1).

It’s the final week of school and besties Alex and Ethan have come up with a plan to convince people that they’re not gay – pretending to come out as trans. As they commit to this hare-brained scheme, Ethan starts to realise that it might not be pretend after all.

Check out the teaser here!

SHE’S THE HE’s International Premiere follows on from a successful World Premiere at SXSW 2025, where the film has already begun to receive critical acclaim. Variety called the film “A delightful coming-out and coming-of-age sendup of Transgender bathroom panic”, with The Hollywood Reporter echoing this, naming the film “hopeful and affirming”.

Speaking on the upcoming International Premiere Director McCarthy said “We’re so excited to share She’s The He with the U.K. and feel so lucky that BFI is letting us spread this movie to all the amazing queer folks in England and Europe!”

SHE’S THE HE will be celebrating its International Premiere as part of the Official Selection at the BFI London Film Festival on 14th October.