Experience the Best of Cinema at the 69th BFI London Film Festival Highlights
The 69th BFI London Film Festival was a remarkable showcase of cinema, concluding on October 19, 2025. This year’s festival set a new record, attracting 235,853 attendees across various screenings and events. The event featured the UK premiere of Julia Jackman’s film “100 Nights of Hero,” which is inspired by Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel. Notable cast members included Emma Corrin and Richard E. Grant.
Record-Breaking Attendance and Audience Engagement
The festival ran for 12 days, with a total occupancy rate of 94%, up from 92% in the previous year. Notably, 47% of ticket holders were first-time attendees. Over 1,000 filmmakers and XR artists presented their works, while the Industry Forum welcomed more than 3,400 delegates. A strong media presence was noted, with 860 media members accredited to cover P&I screenings of 160 films.
LFF Audience Awards
Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of “Hamnet,” based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. This gala event took place on October 11, featuring the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, alongside Zhao and the film’s cast, including Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.
- Winner of Best Feature Film: Hamnet
- Winner of Best British Discovery: Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story, directed by Yemi Bamiro.
- Other Awards:
- Best Film in Official Competition – Landmarks (Dir. Lucrecia Martel)
- Sutherland Award – One Woman One Bra (Dir. Vincho Nchogu)
- Grierson Award – The Travelers (Dir. David Bingong)
- Short Film Award – Coyotes (Dir. Said Zagha)
Film Highlights and Premieres
This year’s festival included an impressive variety of 252 titles from 79 countries, with over 41% of works created by female and non-binary filmmakers. Additionally, 28 world premieres were showcased, making it a significant year for debuting new content.
Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” opened the festival, drawing a star-studded attendance featuring Daniel Craig and Glenn Close. Other notable attendees included Adam Sandler, Tilda Swinton, and Guillermo Del Toro.
Accessibility and Community Engagement
The festival prioritized accessibility, offering affordable ticket options. £10 tickets were available for various screenings, and £6 tickets were offered to attendees under 25, as well as those on Universal Credit. Special family screenings also created opportunities for younger audiences to engage with the film community.
Looking Ahead to Future Festivals
The 70th BFI London Film Festival is scheduled for October 7-18, 2026. With a commitment to celebrating cinema and engaging audiences, the festival aims to build upon its traditions and successes in the coming years.
