BFI London Film Festival

About BFI London Film Festival

The BFI London Film Festival (LFF) is the United Kingdom's most important film festival and one of the most significant public film events in the world. Held each October in London, LFF presents an expansive program of international, British, and independent cinema to over 150,000 attendees across multiple West End venues, and simultaneously through a growing online platform that reaches audiences nationwide.

Founded in 1957, the BFI London Film Festival operates with the dual mandate of celebrating the best world cinema while championing the British film industry. The festival is not primarily a market or acquisitions event — it functions as a major cultural showcase, often presenting films that have already generated significant international attention at Cannes, Venice, and Toronto.

LFF's official competition — the BFI London Film Festival Awards — spans feature films, documentaries, short films, and an inaugural award for debut features. The festival's Amplify strand specifically programs films by and about underrepresented communities, while the Experimenta strand champions formally radical cinema.

A Filmmaker's Guide to BFI London Film Festival

LFF accepts submissions through the official BFI submission portal for all competition and non-competition sections. The festival prioritizes UK and international premieres, and given its October timing, it regularly screens films that have already shown at Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Telluride — making it a natural capstone to the autumn festival circuit.

The Short Film competition is one of the most respected in Europe, and the BFI funds and champions British short filmmaking throughout the year through its National Lottery funding arm. Short film submissions are handled through a dedicated portal with separate deadlines.

LFF's Expanded program is dedicated to immersive, virtual, and installation-based storytelling, representing one of the most sophisticated curation exercises in extended cinema at any film festival worldwide.

What Programmers Look For

LFF values cinematic excellence across the full spectrum of world cinema — the festival deliberately programs blockbusters and art films, British productions alongside the best of international cinema. For competition sections, the emphasis falls on films that demonstrate genuine originality and a distinct perspective.

The festival has a particular commitment to British filmmaking and will often select films with UK cast, crew, or production connections. Documentary films, experimental cinema, and films from African and Asian cinemas are consistently well-represented.

The Selection Process

LFF is selected by the BFI's programming team, drawing on submissions from sales agents and production companies alongside active scouting at international festivals. The full program is announced in September for the October festival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is LFF?

A: The BFI London Film Festival is held annually in October, running for twelve days. It typically begins in the second week of October.

Q: Is the BFI London Film Festival a competition?

A: Yes — since 2009, LFF has operated an official competition awarding prizes including Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, and the Sutherland Award for debut features.

Q: Can international films compete at LFF?

A: Yes — both the competition and main program are international in scope. UK films and international films compete on equal terms in the official competition.

Q: How does LFF support British filmmakers?

A: The BFI funds British films through National Lottery awards and actively programs British productions throughout the festival. The BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival runs separately in spring, also under the BFI umbrella.

Q: Does LFF screen films online?

A: Yes — LFF has expanded its digital offering significantly, with many screenings available online to UK audiences through the BFI Player platform, dramatically expanding access beyond London.

Submit Your Film

Ready to submit to BFI London Film Festival? Visit https://bfi.org.uk/lff for submission information and deadlines. Review all submission guidelines carefully, ensure your materials are complete, and submit early to give your film the best chance of a thorough review. We look forward to seeing your work.