BFI London Film Festival 2024

This year’s BFI London Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, October 9 with Steve McQueen’s World War II drama Blitz at the Royal Festival Hall and cinemas across the UK.

From there, the UK’s biggest film festival will be pressing play on 11 days and nights of movies, big and small, at cinemas and venues across London and cities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Very much not a festival that’s just for the critics, snobs and VIPs, the LFF remains the most accessible of the world’s big film festivals. Which means you’ve got every chance of scoring seats to its packed line-up of new movies when tickets go on sale on September 17 (September 10 for BFI members and September 13 for Amex card members). 

What is the BFI London Film Festival?

Now in its 68th year, the London Film Festival is the UKs biggest film fest – an annual showcase for the best in premieres, new movies, restored works from the BFI archives, short films, virtual reality XR experiences, talks, panels and parties. 

When is the London Film Festival 2024?

This year’s LFF runs from Wednesday, October 9 to Sunday, October 20. 

Where is the London Film Festival Held?

As in recent years, the London Film Festival reaches far beyond the capital. London’s Southbank – the Royal Festival Hall, BFI IMAX, BFI Southbank, and Bargehouse for the LFF Expanded XR strand – represents its main home, with screenings also taking place at five London partner cinemas: Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Soho, ICA, Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End.

There are multiple LFF venues outside London, too, including Nottingham’s Broadway Cinema, Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre, Glasgow Film Theatre, MAC in Birmingham, Belfast’s Queen’s Film Theatre, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema and Watershed in Bristol.  

What to see at the London Film Festival?

Steve McQueen’s Blitz starring Saoirse Ronan is opening the frstival on October 9, with Pharrell Williams’ doc, Piece By Piece, bringing the curtain down on October 20. The full programme has now been announced and features exciting new films from Mike Leigh, Pedro Almodóvar, Andrea Arnold, Sean Baker, Marielle Heller and Jia Zhangke.

When do London Film Festival tickets go onsale?

Tickets go onsale to the general public on September 17. Head to the official festival site for all pricing info.