Film and events programme

Galas and special presentations

  • Image from The Personal History of David Copperfield

    Headline Galas

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

  • Image from Ema

    Strand Galas

    Red carpet galas from our themed strands: Cult, Dare, Thrill, Debate, Love, Laugh, Family, Journey, Create, and Treasures.

  • Image from Rocks

    Special Presentations

    Join us for our Documentary, Experimenta, BFI Flare, and more Special Presentations.

In Competition

  • Official Competition

    Official Competition

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

  • First Feature Competition

    First Feature Competition

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

  • Documentary Competition

    Documentary Competition

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

  • Short Film Award

    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

  • Love

    Love

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

  • Debate

    Debate

    Riveting films that amplify, scrutinise, argue and surprise.

  • Laugh

    Laugh

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

  • Dare

    Dare

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

  • Thrill

    Thrill

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

  • Cult

    Cult

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

  • Journey

    Journey

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

  • Create

    Create

    Films that channel the electricity of the creative process, celebrating artistic expression in all its forms.

  • Family

    Family

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

  • Experimenta

    Experimenta

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

  • Treasures

    Treasures

    Revived and restored from the world’s archives.

  • Events

    Events

    Exclusive talks from leading filmmakers and creatives.