Thematic strands

What are you in the mood for? Whether you’re after a laugh or some thrills, choose a strand and you’ll find our programmers’ carefully chosen suggestions to get your emotions stirred or soothed.

Love

...in all its glory.

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Debate

Sparking conversations.

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Laugh

From riotous romcoms to skewering satires.

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Dare

Pushing the boundaries.

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Thrill

From the wildest ride to the slowest burn.

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Cult

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

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Journey

Stories to shift our perspectives.

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Create

The electricity of the creative process.

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Experimenta

Artists and the moving image.

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Shorts

Small but perfectly formed.

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Family

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

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Archive

Restorations from the world's archives.

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Animation

Animation at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival.

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Documentaries

Insightful and revealing documentaries from across the globe.

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Expanded

New dimensions in storytelling.

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LGBTQIA+

LGBTQIA+ films at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival.

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Series

Showcasing the best in new series and television premieres from around the globe.

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UK titles

British feature films and series.

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