The 70th BFI London Film Festival takes place across London from October 7 to 18, with gala premieres at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall and screenings, competitions, talks, and special presentations across BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, and selected West End cinemas. The 2026 programme features 251 titles from 88 countries, including 33 world premieres, with international filmmakers and actors attending throughout the festival.
The festival begins with the European premiere of Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone, at the Opening Night Gala on October 7. The cast includes Andrew Scott, Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, Joe Locke, and Juliet Stevenson, with cast attendance expected. The Closing Night Gala on October 18 features the UK premiere of The Debut, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, with Eisenberg and members of the cast expected to attend.
Other gala titles include Danny Boyle’s Ink, Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun, James Gray’s Paper Tiger, Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love, Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, Susanna White’s Prima Facie, and the international premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial.