Entertainment
BFI London Film Festival announces 70th edition lineup featuring 251 titles
The festival will run Oct. 7–18 and include world premieres for animated features by Brad Bird and Travis Knight.
The short version
- Organizers revealed the complete program for the 70th BFI London Film Festival, scheduling 251 works from 88 countries across October 7–18, 2026.
- The slate features 33 world premieres, highlighted by Travis Knight's stop-motion feature 'Wildwood' and Brad Bird's animated film 'Ray Gunn.'
- Works by female directors make up 43 percent of the festival's lineup.
- The event will open with Simon Stone's 'Elsinore' and conclude with Jesse Eisenberg's 'The Debut.'
Key facts
- The 70th BFI London Film Festival will take place from October 7 to October 18, 2026, presenting 251 features, shorts, series, and immersive projects from 88 countries.[The Hollywood Reporter · Variety]
- The program includes 33 world premieres, such as Travis Knight's animated film 'Wildwood' and Brad Bird's 'Ray Gunn.'[The Hollywood Reporter · Variety]
- Female filmmakers directed 109 titles in the program, accounting for 43 percent of the festival's offerings.[The Hollywood Reporter · Variety]
- Simon Stone's 'Elsinore' serves as the opening film, while Jesse Eisenberg's 'The Debut' is scheduled as the closing title.[The Hollywood Reporter · Variety]
- The festival features 16 international premieres and 20 European premieres alongside galas highlighting works from directors such as Danny Boyle, Paweł Pawlikowski, and Taika Waititi.[The Hollywood Reporter · Variety]