BFI London Film Festival 2025
After another challenging year in 2024 for a film industry in flux, true cinema returned to the London and UK cinemas beyond, courtesy of the the British Film Institute (BFI), as the 69th edition of one of the world’s most accessible major film festivals— the London Film Festival (LFF)—gathered global cinema players in the British capital once again.
In a now established recent tradition once a again a mix of physical and virtual online events both in the capital and other UK cities brought nearly 247 titles including features, shorts, upcoming TV series episodes and XR programmes from 79 countries to UK audiences in London’s South Bank as well as the West End and beyond.
Once again indie players from across the globe as well as major studios with their own indie labels returned bringing much anticipated titles competing for our attention, up against major streaming players like Netflix, Apple and Amazon who have themselves taken a major chunk of the industry. As usual the films were divided into thematic strands and gala screenings with the star glitz & glamour to match, plus of course a small selection of titles in the festival’s official competition. You can see the full schedule of this year’s LFF feature films and much more on the official BFI site here, and all of our LFF reviews so far here . . . but stay tuned for many more to come.
Screenings
Week 1
Wednesday the 8th
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
In a break with the recently re-established tradition of homegrown opening night galas at the LFF, the honour of opening the festival this year was a Hollywood Netflix franchise sequel affair which brought American writer/director Rian Johnson back to the festival for the UK premiere of the latest instalment of his “Benoit Blanc” ensemble whodunnit series ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’.
Another murder-mystery revolving around the deductive talents of world-renowned Southern gentleman sleuth Benoit Blanc, who is dropped into the complex web of religion where he must solve a murder and unravel a conspiracy dressed as a miracle when a powerful preacher ends up mysteriously dead, with a newly arrived eager young priest and everyone in his flock is a suspect. Johnson was flanked on the LFF red carpet by his cavalcade of stars including Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, Daniel Craig of course, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack and Cecilia Blair, ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ is out in selected cinemas on the 28th of November, and streams on Netflix from the 12th of December. You can check out our review here.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at the LFF (courtesy of BFI)
Enzo
Image Source: Curzon Films
The pick of day one’s other screenings came in the ‘Journey’ strand and brought French cinema and writer/director Robin Campillo back to the LFF (in spirit anyway), who stepped in after the untimely death of his friend and co-writer Laurent Cantet to bring us the UK premiere of their coming-of-age meditation on class and sexuality ‘Enzo’. The story of “Enzo”, a teenager from a privileged background who defies his family and dashes expectations by dropping out of school to become an apprentice builder, only to further stoke the social fires by falling for fellow builder and Ukrainian immigrant “Vlad”. Enzo’ has no confirmed UK and US dates yet.
Enzo trailer (courtesy of NZIFF)
Exit 8
Image Source: Vertigo Releasing
Opening day also brought Japanese cinema and psychological horror to the LFF, when writer/director Genki Kawamura brought his adaptation of the popular 2023 walking simulator adventure video game ‘The Exit 8’ to the ‘Cult’ strand of the festival for the UK premiere of ‘Exit 8’. The tense tale of a young man who gets lost in a seemingly endless Japanese metro passage, on an increasingly claustrophobic quest to find the mythical Exit 8 only to discover increasingly surreal anomalies which he must notice and address if he’s to ever escape this infinite underground nightmare. ‘Exit 8’ is out now in Japan, with no confirmed UK or US dates yet.
Exit 8 trailer (courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment)
Thursday the 9th
Ballad of a Small Player
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The first Thursday at the LFF this year brought further Netflix participation and German director Edward Berger back to the festival with his latest tense and atmospheric adaptation of a revered novel, as he was joined by his stars Alex Jennings, Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Tilda Swinton and Jason Tobin for the premiere of their sleek British gambling drama/thriller ‘Ballad of a Small Player’.
An adaptation of the Lawrence Osborne novel centred on a stylish hard-drinking Irish con-man and degenerate gambler on the run from a dark past and wasting his life on the casino floors of Macau, who finds a lifeline and potential salvation in a mysterious kindred lost soul casino worker while a tenacious private eye pursues him to unravel the secrets of his past. ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ is out in selected UK cinemas now, and streams on Netflix from the 29th of October.
Ballad of a Small Player at the LFF (courtesy of AP)
Bad Apples
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
Thursday number one at the LFF this year also kicked off the festival’s official competition and brought homegrown participation by way of Scandinavia, as Swedish director Jonatan Etzler brought his English language debut and two of its younger stars Nia Brown and Eddie Waller for the UK premiere of their dark comedy adaptation of the Swedish novel ‘The Unwanted’ by Rasmus Lindgren ‘Bad Apples’.
A black comedy academic satire set in a humble British classroom, where a young primary school teacher struggles to inspire and motivate her children only to be scuppered by one unruly and disruptive student, as she takes it upon herself to take drastic actions which soon escalate into unforeseen circumstances and things threaten to get out of control as the school and community around them look the other way. ‘Bad Apples’ has no confirmed dates yet.
Bad Apples at the LFF (courtesy of The Upcoming)
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The day’s second official competition screening was a documentary screening which saw British filmmaker Yemi Bamiro bring the world premiere of his portrait of forgotten black culture icon Kwame Brathwaite ‘Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story’ to the LFF. A chronicle of one of the key figures in the African Liberation and “Black is Beautiful” movement in America of the 50s, 60s and 70s, a celebrated photographer and Harlem cultural archivist who helped forge black pride and roots recognition, as told by the people who knew him and some famous faces who benefited from and were inspired by his efforts. Bamiro was joined by his producers Joanna Boateng, Lizzie Gillett, Robin Bronk, Andrew Calof and Ian Bonhôte plus Kwame Brathwaite Jr., ‘Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story’ has no confirmed dates yet.
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story at the LFF (courtesy of The Upcoming)
A Private Life (Vie Privée)
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The pick of the first Thursday’s other UK premieres came in the ‘Thrill’ strand of screenings and was a French cinema affair with a touch of modern Hollywood legend, which brought writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski back to the LFF accompanied by her star Jodie Foster for the screening of their mystery/thriller ‘A Private Life’.
A contemporary crime drama starring a Jodie Foster flexing her impressive French language skills, playing a celebrated but slightly cold American psychiatrist in Paris who takes matters into her own hands when one of her patients dies in suspicious circumstances, as she embarks on her own investigation to prove she was murdered and finds herself plunged into what seems a conspiracy, only to be uncomfortably confronted by her own psyche and her complex relationships with her ex-husband and resentful adult son. ‘A Private Life’ is out on the 6th of March 2026 in the UK and January 16th 2026 in the US.
A Private Life clip (courtesy of Altitude Films)
Friday the 10th
Bugonia
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The first Friday’s proceedings culminated with the return of LFF regular and “Greek Weird Wave” pioneer Yorgos Lanthimos to the LFF with his latest signature surrealist dark comedy concoction, continuing his recent prolific streak as he applies his unique cinematic sensibilities and adapts 2003 South Korean satire ‘Save the Green Planet!’ to give us the gala UK premiere of ‘Bugonia’.
A latest quirky black comedy which reunites Lanthimos with his muse Emma Stone and revolves around a pair of lowly eccentric warehouse worker cousins, tired of scraping a living whilst harbouring resentments and very personal bizarre conspiracy theories about the rich and powerful, who hatch a scheme to kidnap a fierce and influential female bio-tech CEO whom they’re convinced is an alien with dastardly plans for the world, only for things to take a dark surrealist turn when they go through with it. Lanthimos was flanked on the LFF red carpet by his stars Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone and Aidan Delbis, ‘Bugonia’ is out on the 24th of October in the US and on the 31st of October in UK cinemas, you can check out our review here.
Bugonia at the LFF (courtesy of HeyUGuys)
Jay Kelly
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The second of the day’s big gala screenings was a distinctly Hollywood affair which saw American writer/director and LFF stalwart Noah Baumbach return to the festival, flanked by his stars Greta Gerwig, Adam Sandler and George Clooney plus producer David Heyman for the UK premiere of their reflective showbiz road comedy/drama ‘Jay Kelly’.
A droll yet touching character piece study of an ageing Hollywood star who begins reflecting on his life after being honoured with a lifetime achievement award, sending him on a trip across Europe with his team led by his trusted colourful manager, as he’s forced to confront the demons of his past and the the regrets and sacrifices made for the sake of a calling and a career. ‘Jay Kelly’ is out in selected cinemas on the 14th of November, and streams on Netflix from the 5th of December.
Jay Kelly trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Diamonds in the Sand
Image Source: Free Stone Productions
Friday also saw some play in the LFF’s First ‘Feature Competition’ when debutante Filipina writer/director Janus Victoria brought the UK premiere of her pan-Asian meditation on loneliness and human connection ‘Diamonds in the Sand’. A tender character drama revolving around a down-on-his-luck lonely middle aged Japanese divorcee, who after a recent painful loss heads for the promise of Philippines where he believes warmth and happiness will be found, only to learn that even the most welcoming of communities can hide their own pain and darkness. ‘Diamonds in the Sand’ has no confirmed dates yet.
Diamonds in the Sand trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Peter Hujar’s Day
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The pick of the day’s other screenings came in the ‘Create’ strand courtesy of American writer/director Ira Sachs, who returned to the LFF in spirit but represented by his star Ben Whishaw for the UK premiere of his tribute to an artist and biographical character study of a friendship ‘Peter Hujar’s Day’. A chamber piece character drama centred on a 1974 conversation between New York writer Linda Rosenkrantz and celebrated New Jersey photographer Peter Hujar, whom she convinces to recount the events of one day in his life and create unique portrait of an artist, whilst illuminating his humanity and strengthening a unique friendship. ‘Peter Hujar’s Day’ is out on the 7th of November in the US, with no UK date yet.
Peter Hujar’s Day trailer (courtesy of Janus Films)
Saturday the 11th
Hamnet
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
Saturday number one this year was a busy day at the LFF with no less than three gala screenings, the biggest of which was The Mayor of London’s Gala which brought Chinese writer/director Chloé Zhao back to the LFF flanked by her stars Emily Watson, Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Jacobi Jupe and Olivia Lynes, plus lofty producers Sam Mendes and Steven Spielberg for the UK premiere of her adaptation of the Maggie O’Farrell historical fiction novel ‘Hamnet’.
A soulful ode to grief and imagination in the form of fictional take on the bond between legendary English playwright William Shakespeare and his wife, centred around the tragic loss of their young son and its effect on their relationship, as the bard pours his grief into his work and the creation of his tragic masterpiece ‘Hamlet’. ‘Hamnet’ is out on the 27th of November in the US, and on the 9th of January 2026 in UK cinemas.
Hamnet at the LFF (courtesy of AP)
After the Hunt
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The second big gala screening of the day was an American cinema affair courtesy of Italian director Luca Guadagnino, who returned to the LFF alongside his stars Andrew Garfield, Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Michael Stuhlbarg for the UK premiere of their scholarly psychological drama ‘After the Hunt’.
A tense ensemble character drama meditation on scandal culture and generational clashes centred on a senior college professor, whose life begins to unravel when she gets drawn into a campus sexual assault scandal involving a close colleague and a star student, which uncomfortably pulls her in and exposes a difficult past while forcing her to make difficult decisions. ‘After the Hunt’ is out now in US and UK cinemas.
After the Hunt at the LFF (courtesy of AP)
It Was Just an Accident (Yek Tasadef Sadeh)
Image Source: MUBI
The final first Saturday gala screening brought Persian cinema and Iranian writer/director Jafar Panahi back to the LFF (in spirit) for the UK premiere of his morality thriller and most recent Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘It Was Just an Accident’. ‘A droll but tense and poignant character drama revolving around an unassuming Iranian whose involvement in a minor car accident brings him face to face with a man he suspects is a government agent and his former tormentor, triggering suspicion and obsession and setting off a series of unfortunate events involving other victims who take the law into their own hands, in the search for a truth which could pull them into danger. ‘It Was Just an Accident’ is out now in the US and on the 5th of December in the UK.
It Was Just an Accident trailer (courtesy of Neon)
The Testament of Ann Lee
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The pick of the day’s other screenings was an official competition entry which brought Norwegian writer/director Mona Fastvold to the LFF, accompanied by her stars Matthew Beard, Stacy Martin, Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie and Viola Prettejohn for the UK premiere of their biographical period drama portrait of a radical 18th century preacher ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’.
The story of evangelical English missionary Ann Lee, born into poverty in Manchester only to found the restorationist Christian sect of the “Shakers”—defined by their energetic worship and egalitarian principles—and to spread the word and the religion in the new world after emigrating to New York just before American independence. ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ has no confirmed dates yet.
The Testament of Ann Lee at the LFF (courtesy of box__office)
Sunday the 12th
H Is for Hawk
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
Sunday number one this year saw another busy day for big gala screenings at the LFF, led by a homegrown BFI Patrons’ Gala which brought British TV & film writer/director Philippa Lowthorpe to the LFF red carpet for the UK premiere of her human drama meditation on grief and emotional healing ‘H Is for Hawk’.
An adaptation of the celebrated Helen Macdonald memoir revolving around a writer and naturalist grieving the sudden unexpected death of her journalist father, whose unexpected bond with an unruly pet hawk pulls her out of an emotional spiral and provides new purpose. Lowthorpe was joined by her stars Arty Froushan, Emma Cunniffe, Denise Gough, Brendan Gleeson, Claire Foy, Lindsay Duncan and Josh Dylan, ‘H Is for Hawk’ is out on the 23rd of January 2026 in UK cinemas..
H Is for Hawk at the LFF (courtesy of BFI)
Sentimental Value (Affeksjonsverdi)
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The second of Sunday’s big gala screenings brought Scandinavian cinema and Norwegian writer/director Joachim Trier back to the LFF, reunited with his ‘The Worst Person in the World’ star Renate Reinsve and accompanied by her co-stars Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for the UK premiere of melancholy exploration of love and loss, relationships and identity ‘Sentimental Value’.
A dysfunctional family drama revolving around a Norwegian actress and her sister, whose attempt to repair a difficult relationship with their larger-than-life estranged director father becomes further complicated when she turns down a part in what he hopes will be a comeback film, and he opts instead for a young Hollywood star, further complicating a past defined by emotional detachment and estrangement and forcing them to confront a legacy of trauma in the house which harboured generations of their family’s difficult history. ‘Sentimental Value’ is out on limited release on the 7th of November, and on general UK release on the 26th of December.
Sentimental Value at the LFF (courtesy of HeyUGuys)
The Choral
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The day’s third big gala screening was a distinctly homegrown affair of the period drama variety which saw British director Nicholas Hytner make his LFF debut, re-united with legendary Yorkshire playwright and screenwriter Alan Bennett for the UK premiere of their World War I era domestic drama ‘The Choral’.
A British ensemble tale set in an England in midst of first world war devastation and an escalating battle of attrition on the Western front, in a Yorkshire village with a choral society devastated by the loss of its members to the war, which turns to the local youngsters and a new talented but controversial and colourful choir master with a past to turn their fortunes around and give the community hope for the future . . . even in the face of darkness and hopelessness. Hytner was joined on the LFF red carpet by Bennett himself plus his stars Jacob Dudman, Taylor Uttley, Ollie Brimscombe, Shaun Thomas, Ron Cook, Roger Allam, Ralph Fiennes, Lyndsey Marshal, Emily Fairn, Carolyn Pickles, Amara Okereke, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong and Robert Emms among others, ‘The Choral’ is out on the 7th of November in the UK and on the 25th of December in the US.
The Choral trailer (courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing UK)
Hedda
Image Source: Getty Images BFI
The festival’s official competition also saw some action on the first Sunday and LFF audiences were treated to a bold new cinematic take on a celebrated stage play, as emerging American writer/director Nia DaCosta made her LFF debut flanked by her stars Nicholas Pinnock, Imogen Poots, Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss and Tom Bateman for the UK premiere of her adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s tragic 19th century tale of social expectations and female emancipation ‘Hedda’.
A stylish US made British costume drama set in mid 20th century England rather than the Victorian Norway of Ibsen’s play, revolving around a beguiling headstrong young woman hosting a decadent high-society manor party, who can’t resist temptation and the pull of a wild past, making moves to break societal conventions as the night gets later and wilder . . . and facing the consequences. ‘Hedda’ is out on a limited UK cinema release on the 24th of October and streams on Amazon Prime Video from the 29th of October.
Hedda trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Week 2 & Awards—->
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