Sep 93 min read

BFI LFF 2024 Programme Released

Festivals Director Kirsty Matheson has done it again, gracing us with the programme for the 68th BFI London Film Festival—and it is looking as tantalising as ever. Much like last year, the focus is on the complex layers that shape a community’s past, present, and future. What is to come in October serves as a microcosm—a "cinematic mirror", as Matheson aptly describes it—reflecting on the many layers that shape storytelling.

Following last year’s powerful Cannes premiere of Occupied City, the Opening Gala will see Steve McQueen return to festival screens with his new film Blitz. His continued exploration of World War II (starring Saoirse Ronan) is set to be ‘one of the finest portrayals of life in a moment of crisis, perseverance and renewal’, offering an immediately strong, contemplative start to the festival. By a relatively striking contrast, the festival will be capped off with Pharrell Williams’ LEGO biopic Piece by Piece. The audience can look forward to this quirkier choice of a Closing Gala underscoring the festival’s mission to bring out the diversity of innovation in filmmaking. The combination of this profound period piece opener and this ‘refreshingly self-aware’ LEGO comedy demonstrates the lack of creative boundaries in Matheson’s programme this year.

Amongst the comedy and the heartbreak of this year's programme, tension can be expected from Oscar-Winning Edward Berger's return with a British Catholic hushed thriller: Conclave. Other notable British mentions include Andrea Arnold’s Bird; R.J Cutler and David Furnish’s Elton John biopic, Elton John, Never Too Late; Mike Leigh reunites with Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truth (seems like they’re done with Secrets and Lies); and an exciting possibility of a new animated Christmas classic That Christmas—written by Richard Curtis, directed by Simon Otto, and voiced by the likes of Brian Cox. Each of these artistic voices is bringing a vibrancy to what it means to be British in our modern media climate. This notion is supported by Silent Sherlock, the exciting restoration of Maurice Elvey's quintessentially British adaptation of the Conan-Doyle classic, with three episodes being screened in the beautifully historic Alexandra Palace theatre.

However, the diversity of British culture is not where Matheson’s creative direction ends. London's vibrant identity is shaped by the diversity of its communities, from the Bangladeshi heritage of Brick Lane to the Afro-Caribbean influence in Brixton, and the Middle Eastern presence in Edgware Road. The London Film Festival embraces this ‘global citizenship’, striving to represent and celebrate the rich cultural tapestry that defines the city. Matheson shines a bright spotlight on India’s All We Imagine as Light, the first-ever film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes from director-screenwriter Payal Kapadia. Palestinian filmmaker Laila Abbas debuts in the competition section of the festival with Thank You for Banking with Us, the ‘debate’ section sees a daring Japanese documentary Black Box Diaries on rape culture, and there will be a special presentation of Mati Diop’s Dahomey based in both Senegal and Benin.

The dedication to stretch beyond a Western lens maintains the LFF’s stature as a rounded, diverse presentation and celebration of talent in all its glorious forms. This upcoming programme for October is a reminder that nobody should be excluded from the filmic contemplations of what builds and grows a community. Whether that be filmmaker or film-watcher…

The under-25 scheme will continue to run with tickets available from £5, as well as an outreach of events across the country that continues to spread with each passing year. This is to be further accompanied by a brand-new gaming segment to their ‘expanded’ section, looking beyond tradition with immersive experiences.

The LFF 2024 programme continues to provide no excuses to not immerse yourself in the pieces of the puzzle that build the world around us. As their slogan goes, ‘Everyone is invited’!

Check out the full programme details here as public tickets go on sale on the 17th of September at 10 am. Patrons and Members of the BFI can also book as early as the 9th and 10th, respectively.