The film became a special presentation at the 2024 BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, where Page also appeared for an in-depth Screen Talk about his career and the stories he wants to help tell.
Taking a Bigger Role in Storytelling
Page is known for performances in films including Juno and Inception, as well as the television series The Umbrella Academy. His work has also extended behind the camera through directing and producing.
With Close to You, Page helped develop the story alongside director Dominic Savage. He also produced the film and stars as Sam, a transgender man who returns to his hometown for a family gathering after time away.
That combination of roles gave Page an opportunity to contribute to the film not just through his performance, but through the story itself.
A Film About Family and Connection
In Close to You, Sam travels home for his father’s birthday. Along the way, he reconnects with Katherine, a friend from high school, and encounters feelings that have remained unresolved.
The story explores family relationships, identity and the complicated emotions that can accompany a return home. It also leaves room for affection, reconnection and the possibility of a new beginning.
Page’s involvement as a co-creator helps make the project a notable chapter in his career: he is helping shape the kinds of characters and experiences audiences encounter on screen.
Sharing His Creative Journey at BFI Flare
BFI Flare presented the film’s European premiere in March 2024. Page then joined a Screen Talk at BFI Southbank to discuss his work across acting, writing, directing and producing.
The British Film Institute later published the conversation on its official YouTube channel, giving viewers beyond the festival a chance to hear Page discuss his career firsthand.
His appearance connects a long-established acting career with a growing interest in developing and producing stories through Pageboy Productions.
Why This Story Matters
Elliot Page’s story is not only about being visible as a transgender man. It is also about having the opportunity to make creative decisions and help bring a film into the world.
With Close to You, he contributed as a performer, storyteller and producer. His BFI Flare appearance offers a look at that work and the career behind it.
For aspiring actors and filmmakers, the milestone offers an encouraging example of how a creative career can continue to grow in new directions.
Sometimes a new chapter means stepping into a different role. For Page, it meant helping tell the story from both sides of the camera.