Film and events programme
Galas and special presentations
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Headline Galas
Join us on the red carpet for our Opening Night, Closing Night and Headline Galas.
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Strand Galas
Red carpet galas from our themed strands: Cult, Dare, Thrill, Debate, Love, Laugh, Family, Journey, Create, and Treasures.
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Special Presentations
Join us for our Documentary, Experimenta, BFI Flare, and more Special Presentations.
In Competition
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Official Competition
The Best Film Award recognises inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking.
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First Feature Competition
The Sutherland Award recognises the most original and imaginative directorial debut.
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Documentary Competition
The Grierson Award recognises films with integrity, originality, and social or cultural significance.
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Short Film Award
The Short Film Award recognises short form works with a unique cinematic voice and a confident handling of chosen theme and content.
Strands
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Love
Sweet, passionate, tough – love is a complex and many splendoured thing.
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Debate
Riveting films that amplify, scrutinise, argue and surprise.
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Laugh
From laugh-out-loud to dry and understated – humour in all its forms.
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Dare
In-your-face, up-front and arresting: films that take you out of your comfort zone.
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Thrill
Nerve-shredders that’ll get your adrenaline pumping and keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Cult
From the mind-altering and unclassifiable to fantasy, sci-fi and horror.
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Journey
Whether it’s the journey or the destination, films to transport you and shift your perspective.
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Create
Films that channel the electricity of the creative process, celebrating artistic expression in all its forms.
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Family
Films for the young... and young at heart.
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Experimenta
Films and videos by artists who transform our experience of seeing moving images.
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Treasures
Revived and restored from the world’s archives.
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Events
Exclusive talks from leading filmmakers and creatives.