The crisp autumn air is descending upon the capital, which can only mean one thing for cinema lovers: the BFI London Film Festival is back for its 70th edition.
Running from 7th to 18th October, this year’s programme is nothing short of a gargantuan cinematic feast, boasting 251 titles spanning features, shorts, series, and immersive projects from 88 countries.
As always, the lineup presents that familiar, delightful headache for critics and filmgoers alike: how on earth do you choose what to see? The full programme drop has given us a mouth-watering glimpse of what is to come.
Having been intrigued by certain movies appearing this year by reviews from our own critics, such as Jack Salvadori, who attended Cannes 2026, as well as seeing familiar names in the recent press release we received, I am itching to get started covering this year’s LFF!
Ink
Securing the prestigious slot as this year’s Mayor of London’s Gala, Danny Boyle’s Ink is easily one of my most anticipated screenings of the entire festival.
Adapted from James Graham’s blistering stage play, the film promises a kinetic, high-energy dive into the early Fleet Street career of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
Boyle’s frantic, propulsive directorial style feels like the ultimate match for the chaotic, ruthless world of 1960s British tabloid journalism.
If Boyle can capture even a fraction of the raw theatrical energy that made the stage show such a runaway triumph, London audiences are in for a proper thrill ride at the Royal Festival Hall.
The Trip to the Northern Lights
Is there anything more comforting than sitting back to watch Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon squabble over gourmet cuisine while doing Michael Caine impressions? The answer is a resounding no.
Reunited once again with director Michael Winterbottom, the iconic duo are taking their trademark banter, improvised neuroses, and culinary explorations across Northern Europe in The Trip to the Northern Lights.
Presented as a Series Special Presentation, this fifth instalment in the beloved series promises more of the brilliant, light-hearted, yet strangely poignant observational comedy that has made their ongoing travelogues a staple of British popular culture. I cannot wait to see how they handle Scandinavian fine dining and frigid climates.
Wildwood
Animation lovers have plenty of reasons to celebrate at LFF 2026, but Travis Knight’s Wildwood feels like a genuine event. Coming from the legendary animation studio Laika, the mastermind creators behind Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, this World Premiere promises to deliver the studio’s trademark blend of breathtaking stop-motion craftsmanship and rich, atmospheric storytelling.
Set in an enchanted wilderness just outside Portland, the film follows a young girl venturing into an uncharted woodland to rescue her younger brother. Laika never fails to push the absolute boundaries of what physical, frame-by-frame animation can achieve, and catching this on a massive festival screen is high on my personal priority list.
Club Kid
Every festival needs its wild card, and Jordan Firstman’s feature directorial debut, Club Kid, looks set to be one of the most talked-about comedies of the fortnight.
Firstman has already built a formidable reputation for his razor-sharp, social-media-literate satire, and bringing his unique comedic lens to a narrative feature feels like a natural and deeply exciting progression. Screening as part of the Gala lineup, Club Kid promises a hilarious, chaotic dive into youth culture, nightlife, and modern vanity.
After reading our very own Jack Salvadori’s Club Kid review, I am particularly looking forward to seeing how Firstman’s distinctive, irreverent voice translates to the big screen, and I suspect this one will have audiences laughing out loud in the aisles.
Beyond these major titles, part of the magic of LFF is the thrill of the unknown. With 33 World Premieres and debuts from dynamic new filmmakers like Ashley Walters, Shalini Adnani, and Harvey Zielinski, the potential for discovering a future masterpiece around any corner is immense.
Add to that the return of heavy-hitting festival alumni such as Martin McDonagh, Taika Waititi, Mike Leigh, and Florian Zeller, and the 70th anniversary is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of global cinema.
Whether you are planning to park yourself at BFI Southbank for twelve straight days or catch a screening at one of the partner venues across the UK, there is a whole world of cinema waiting to be explored. I’ll be the guy sitting at the end of an aisle with a diet soda and a giant grin on his face.