Gay warehouse tenant James West is hoping to help others feel comfortable exploring their sexuality in a social setting by opening up his studio for a Queer Short Film screening as part of the inHOUSE Festival (May 1 to 10).

The Tottenham resident will host a pop-up pub The Queen’s Legs for the event, which will include the UK premier of a French transgender film by award-winning writer and director Coralie Prosper.

Mathi(eu) tells the story of Mathilde who always knew she was a boy and is accepted as such by his parents and renamed him Mathieu. The short film is a heartfelt exploration of youthful transgender identity, expertly crafted by Coralie who graduated from the National Film School of Nice (ESRA) in 2011.

There will also be two nostalgic music videos from visual artist Prickimage, who has worked with the Chemical Brothers and Vivien Westwood, and featuring acclaimed British comedian and drag queen Jonny Woo.

James says the borough of Haringey, like many other across the capital, has seen all permanent LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) venues close in recent years and he thinks it’s important to host nights like this.

“With so many gay pubs and clubs closing down I think it’s our responsibility to host events that still give people a chance to feel safe exploring queer identity in a social setting.

“I’m out, I’m comfortable, but I know there are many others who are still exploring – unless we as a community don’t think differently about how we can help, nothing will change by just complaining“.

The pop-up is free to attend with donations taken at the door and all profits going to Haringey arts charity Wise Thoughts.

The inHOUSE festival was born from a desire to preserve something that is unique to the areas of N15 and N4 and will be set in and around the creative community hub that is made up of a network of work-live warehouses in Manor House and Seven Sisters.

The festival is still primarily film-focussed and received more than 300 submissions of short films from which the team selected six short programmes built around different approaches to the theme of Home.

They will all be shown in the warehouses with screenings on the subjects of Within or Without, exploring the avenues of the skin we live in; Blood Ties, about families and childhood memories; and Eat My Shorts @10A Overbury, showing films curated by residents.

The festival’s live programme has been expanded this year and the opening night (May 1) will be at new venue The Omnibus, Eade Road, N4. There will also be events at T-Chances, Cotton Mill, Catwalk Place, Button Factory, Overbury Road and the Arena Design Centre.

Details: inhousefestival.co.uk