Written by Kianna Best on Sep 4, 2024. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Line-up announced for 68th BFI London Film Festival

This year’s London Film Festival will open with Steve McQueen’s Blitz and close with the European premiere of Morgan Neville’s Pharrell Lego documentary Piece by Piece. The American Express Gala will also host the European premiere of R.J. Cutler and David Furnish’s Elton John: Never Too Late. A total of 253 titles from 79 countries and of 63 languages will be screened at the festival this year.

The 68^th annual BFI London Film Festival is set to me packed with many anticipated premieres and screenings of some of the best works from the world’s top filmmakers. Returning the BFI Southbank and The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, the festival will see a total of 253 titles being screened, 112 of those made by female and non-binary filmmakers, an impressive 44% of the total programme.

“Cinematic ideas materialise in many forms, and this year artists have taken us to some giddy highs and poked at our tender underbellies,” commented Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival director. “Troubled histories linger close to the surface alongside optimistic futures, all explored in unique and creative ways. As the seasons change and we head into the Autumn, we invite everyone to come to the BFI London Film Festival to discover and enjoy the whole spectrum of moving image.”

From 9-20 October 2024, the festival will screen 39 World Premieres (15 features, 2 series, 19 shorts, 3 immersive), 12 International Premieres (6 features, 4 shorts, 2 immersive) and 21 European Premieres (17 features, 1 series, 3 shorts). Offering a glimpse into their filmmaking processes and the industry on a whole, a number of Screen Talks will take place with talents such as Andrea Arnold, Steve McQueen, Mike Leigh, Denis Villeneuve, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Lupita Nyong’o, Zoe Saldaña and Daniel Kaluuya.

“The real joy of LFF for me is seeing the hard work of so many talented filmmakers come to life and given the prominence and noise that they deserve,” added Ben Roberts, chief executive of the BFI. “I want to thank our brilliant Festival team and everyone involved in bringing these films to our LFF audiences, with extra special thanks to American Express and our other partners and supporters.”

The film festival’s programme extends beyond traditional screenings with opportunities for networking occurring throughout the 12 days of activity, such as FOCUS’s annual partnership with the festival for their networking reception. Innovation and creativity are also at the forefront as LFF Expanded returns, a programme of new immersive art and extended reality works presented at Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf, BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX and Outernet London, plus a free games lounge at Bargehouse.

Images courtesy of BFI