Tom Cullen says LGBTQ+ representation matters in Black Church Bay

Tom Cullen has spoken about the importance of LGBTQ+ representation while promoting his new mystery-thriller, Black Church Bay, which stars the Welsh actor alongside Joe Locke.

Speaking at the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Cullen said he did not take the privilege of playing a gay character lightly. He also highlighted the diversity of LGBTQ+ cinema, explaining that different films can show very different experiences within the community.

In Black Church Bay, Cullen plays Barry, a closeted teacher whose life begins to unravel following an intimate encounter with Jasper, a sixth-form student played by Locke. When Jasper disappears, the events threaten to expose secrets within their isolated Welsh community.

Written and directed by Rhys Marc Jones, the film explores secrecy, identity and the lengths people may go to protect their reputations. Its setting in a remote Welsh coastal village also plays a significant role in creating the thriller’s unsettling atmosphere.

Cullen previously starred in the 2011 LGBTQ+ romantic drama Weekend, while Locke is widely recognised for his role in Heartstopper. Their pairing brings together two actors with established connections to LGBTQ+ screen stories.

The film closed the 20th-anniversary edition of the Iris Prize festival in Cardiff on 18 October 2026, with Cullen and Locke attending the special screening alongside director Jones.

Where to watch: Black Church Bay is expected to receive a UK release in 2027. No exact UK release date or streaming platform has been confirmed.