Welcome

Preparing for an autumn festival means the summers are spent travelling vicariously. Traversing cinematic city streets or natural worlds, we move through spaces drawn from the imaginations and lived experiences of filmmakers and artists from around the globe. Each encounter elicits new ideas, challenges preconceived notions and brings forth a raft of emotions. But no matter where these travels take us, the outside world is never far from view.

Making sense of the present through these curious wanderings is a collective endeavour made possible through the generosity and warmth of the whole festival team. It’s in this spirit that we present our programme to you.

I hope that within these pages you find countless reasons to be as buoyed as we are by the incredible state of cinema in 2025 – brimming with formal innovations and countless roadmaps for navigating contemporary society. For anyone who thinks staycations are overrated, perhaps it’s time to experience one in the darkness of a cinema.

Welcome to the festival! Whether this is your first time or you are working it like a pro… whether you’re seeking stimulation or simply here to escape… everyone is invited. This year’s programme is another stunning selection of the world’s finest new feature films, shorts, series, games and immersive experiences. We also have some beautiful archive treasures to share.

Bringing the programme together requires a mind-blowing effort – from the filmmakers and film executives, to our festival programmers and producers. But it only comes to life with you, the audience. Thank you for the joy of your collective gasps, laughs and applause. It means the world to the filmmakers and to all of us at the BFI.

I hope you catch everything on your wish list, and make a few discoveries along the way. You’ll often find a last minute ticket in the standby queue and meet some fellow festival aficionados while you wait.

We’re proud to be back for our 16th year partnering with the BFI London Film Festival. Over this time, the festival has told such unique stories that champion the diverse wealth of talent and abundant creativity within our film industry, both here in the UK and worldwide – and this year’s festival is no different. With such a rich list of films to enjoy, we are thrilled to help Cardmembers and film enthusiasts create lasting memories at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. We look forward to seeing you all there.