BFI Southbank

A four-screen cinema venue showing a huge selection of classic and contemporary films each year, with new and re-releases, film seasons, and director and actor retrospectives.

Now showing

Tom of Finland

Dome Karukoski’s luscious biopic explores the life of Touko Laaksonen from soldier to artist and cult hero.
Opens 18 August

Screening today

All events

Events and previews

Your chance to catch the latest releases, and hear from film and TV personalities.

40th Anniversary: The Sealed Soil + Q&A with director Marva Nabili

This is a rare chance to see a feminist classic on the Iranian director’s own 16mm print.
Sunday Bloody Sunday + Q&A with actor Murray Head

John Schlesinger tells the story of a progressive queer love triangle set in affluent, bohemian London.
What the Butler Saw + Q&A with Orton’s biographer John Lahr, Orton’s sister Leonie Orton and actor/Orton’s personal friend, Kenneth Cranham

Orton’s last play offers a cascade of breathtaking and brilliant one-liners in the style of Oscar Wilde.

All film & TV seasons

Film and TV seasons

Carefully curated collections of film and TV by genre, theme, actor or director.

Jean-Pierre Melville: Visions of the Underworld (Part 1)

We celebrate a French director best known for his crime classics, who inspired the French New Wave, Jim Jarmusch, Tarantino and many others.
Gross Indecency (Part 2)

We peel back the layers of Britain’s relationship with on-screen homosexuality in this unique season of film, TV, discussions and drag queens.
Orton: Obscenities in suburbia

Original, controversial and obscenely witty – just some of the words used to describe British playwright Joe Orton’s work.
For an Impossible Cinema: Cuban Documentaries

As Cuba’s hard-pressed revolution is poised for change, we look back at the documentaries and experimental films of the 1960s-70s.
India on Film: The Turning Point: The Partition of 1947

On the 70th anniversary of Partition what have we learned, if venom still corrodes our hearts?

All film releases

Film releases

The latest cinema releases and key classics – many newly restored.

Prick Up Your Ears

A daring and surprisingly fresh biopic of rebel playwright Joe Orton (an excellent Gary Oldman).
Until 17 August
Howards End

A new 25th-anniversary restoration of one of Merchant Ivory’s masterpieces, starring Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins.
Until 17 August
Le Doulos

A dazzlingly intricate tale of deadly suspicion and betrayal, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo.
Until 24 August

25 and under

Future Film

Events every month for 15-25 year olds who love film.
£3 tickets

Introduction to £3 tickets.

More about BFI Southbank

Your visit

Food and drink

Two great places to lounge, eat and drink when you visit.
BFI Shop

Film and TV-related books, DVDs and gifts at BFI Southbank and online.
The BFI Reuben Library

We provide free access to a huge collection of books, journals and documents about the world of film and television.
BFI Mediatheque

At BFI Southbank’s Mediatheque you can explore the riches of the BFI National Archive, for free.