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Join us at BFI Southbank for the 18th edition of BFI Future Film Festival.
Thursday 20 February

Satu – Year of the Rabbit + Q&A with director Joshua Trigg
A heartwarming journey through Laos as Satu seeks his mother, accompanied by his new photojournalist friend Bo.

Marketplace
Join us at BFI Southbank where over 20 companies will be offering advice to young screen creatives and answering questions.

121 Advice Surgeries with Triple Exposure
Get expert legal, financial and insurance advice for your short film.

121 Script Surgeries
Get instant feedback on your script from industry professionals.

121 Portfolio Surgeries with Blinkink
Get instant feedback on your portfolio from industry professionals.

Nailing your Job Interviews
See what it would be like to try out for an award-winning internship with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Thursday Shorts
Short films made by emerging young filmmakers aged 16 to 25.

Networking Drinks
Join us for free networking drinks every day of the festival.
Friday 21 February

How Films Find Audiences: Careers in Film Sales and Distribution
Explore the exciting world of film sales and distribution, uncovering key roles, skills, and practical advice to help you break into the industry.

Imposter Syndrome: How to Mute Those Gremlins for Good
Silence your inner critic, tackle imposter syndrome and gain confidence to connect and collaborate.

The Guide to Chantal Akerman and Her Cinema
Discover how Chantal Akerman's innovative approach to cinema can inspire your filmmaking, exploring her use of single locations, cinematic time and autobiographical storytelling.

Navigating the Legal, Financial and Insurance Essentials for Short Films
Navigate the legal, financial and insurance essentials of short film production with practical insights and a real-life case study.

Young Programmers Present: Speed Socials
Speed-date style networking with other Future Film Festival attendees.

Friday Hot Spot: Alice Lowe
A career talk with actor, writer and director Alice Lowe.

BlinkInk Presents: I Started as a Runner, but Look at Me Now!
Discover how starting as a runner can pave the way to an exciting career in the screen industries, with insights from professionals who turned their first steps into success.

Young Programmers Present: How to Craft Narratives from Nature
Learn to craft compelling wildlife narratives with practical tips for storytelling on limited budgets and local resources.

Illustrating Emotion: A Journey Through Art, Collaboration and Innovation with Alice Bloomfield
Explore the art of turning emotions into powerful visual stories across mediums.

Friday Shorts
Short films made by emerging young filmmakers aged 16-25.

Networking Drinks
Join us for free networking drinks every day of the festival.
Saturday 22 February

Storytelling Through the Lens: Empowering Your Filmmaking Practice with Sony Cameras
Elevate your storytelling with Sony cameras, mastering cinematic techniques to enhance your filmmaking.

Colour Grading - From Set to Suite
Explore the colour grading pipeline, from on-set workflows to the final grade, and discover how to craft compelling stories through colour.

Moving Images - the Rise of Dance and Movement in Digital Culture
Discover how to craft compelling stories and films using dance and movement.

Young Programmers Present: Moving Away from Apocalypse in Climate Storytelling
Explore alternative ways to tell climate change stories, as filmmakers and experts debate traditional apocalyptic narratives versus new approaches to inspire activism.

Young Programmers Present: Speed Social
Speed-date style networking with other Future Film Festival attendees.

Saturday Hot Spot: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
A career talk with acclaimed writer and director Rebecca Lenkiewicz.

Location, Location, Location - How to Elevate Your Production Using Locations
Learn to source budget-friendly locations with tips on recces, logistics, safety and partnering with location owners.

Building a Long-Term Career in Online Moving Image
Explore the creative commitment behind building an online moving image career, focusing on producing, sustaining and preserving work.

BlinkInk Presents: Development Secrets: How to Get Your Ideas Made
Learn how to bring your film or TV idea to life, with advice on sharing, receiving feedback and navigating development to funding.

Saturday Shorts
Short films made by emerging young filmmakers aged 16-25.

Networking Drinks
Join us for free networking drinks every day of the festival.
Sunday 23 February

Inside The Writers’ Room
Explore the growing significance of writers’ rooms in TV storytelling in the UK, from roles and dynamics to how they shape characters and plot twists.

Getting into Documentary Filmmaking: Non-Traditional Pathways
Explore non-traditional pathways into documentary filmmaking, with insights from self-taught filmmakers and those who’ve transitioned from journalism, activism and other fields.

Young Programmers Present: Building Your Own Community Cinema
Learn how to build a community cinema, from finding venues to attracting audiences, with insights from programmers on creating and sustaining indie film screenings in your local area.

The Art of Editing: Shaping Stories on Screen
Explore the role of editors in shaping film and TV narratives, from pacing to visual and sound integration, with insights into their techniques and artistry.

Young Programmers Present: Speed Social
Speed-date style networking with other Future Film Festival attendees.

Sunday Hot Spot: Nadia Latif
A career talk with theatre and film director, and Screen International Star of Tomorrow 2019, Nadia Latif.

Navigating Your First Day on a Studio Production
Essential tips and insights to help you thrive on your first day in a studio production environment, delivered by Warner Bros. Discovery.

Breaking into Games - A Very Biased Perspective from Coal Supper
Discover the journey behind Thank Goodness You're Here!, with insights on publishing deals, creative integrity and motivation in game development.

The Craft of Commercials: A Producer’s Guide
Discover the art of commercial production, exploring the producer’s role in balancing creativity, logistics and client needs from pitch to delivery.

Young Programmers Present: The Movie Quiz!
Put your film knowledge to the test in this quiz hosted by our BFI Film Academy Young Programmers.

BFI Future Film Festival 2025 Awards Ceremony supported by Netflix (livestreamed)
We reveal our prize winners at the 18th BFI Future Film Festival Awards Ceremony supported by Netflix.

Networking Drinks
Join us for free networking drinks every day of the festival.