Film and events programme

248 features. 74 countries. 15 cinemas. 12 days. One Festival.

Headline Galas

Join us on the red carpet for our Opening Night, Closing Night and Headline Galas.
Strand Galas

Red carpet Galas from our themed strands: Love, Debate, Laugh, Dare, Thrill, Cult, Journey, Sonic, Family, and Treasures.
Special Presentations

Join us for our Documentary, Experimenta, Festival and BFI Flare Special Presentations.
Official Competition

The Best Film Award recognises inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking.
First Feature Competition

The Sutherland Award recognises the most original and imaginative directorial debut.
Documentary Competition

The Grierson Award recognises films with integrity, originality, and social or cultural significance.
Short Film Competition

The Short Film Award recognises short form works with a unique cinematic voice and a confident handling of chosen theme and content.
Love

Sweet, passionate, tough – love is a complex and many splendoured thing.
Debate

Riveting films that amplify, scrutinise, argue and surprise.
Laugh

From laugh-out-loud through romantic comedy to dry and understated – humour in all its forms.
Dare

In-your-face, up-front and arresting: films that take you out of your comfort zone.
Thrill

Nerve-shredders that’ll get your adrenalin pumping and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Cult

From the mind-altering and unclassifiable to fantasy, sci-fi and horror.
Journey

Whether it’s the journey or the destination, films to transport you and shift your perspective.
Sonic

Music-inspired films and events that will leave you dancing in the aisles.
Family

Films for the young... and young at heart.
Experimenta

Films and videos by artists that transform our experience of seeing moving images.
Treasures

Revived and restored from the world’s archives.