BFI London Film Festival 2024: Must-See Films, From Award Contenders to Hidden Foreign Gems

The 68th BFI London Film Festival takes place from October 9 to October 20 in London and several major cities across the UK.

The 68th BFI London Film Festival kicks off with the world premiere of Steve McQueen’s Blitz, drawing attention as this year’s marquee event. However, the festival offers much more, featuring a rich selection of films, shorts, and immersive experiences for cinema enthusiasts. From iconic stars like Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig to emerging directors, this year’s lineup promises to be one of the best yet.

Running from October 9 to October 20, the festival will take place in London’s renowned cinemas, including the BFI Southbank, Prince Charles Cinema, ICA, Curzon Soho and Mayfair, and Vue West End, as well as in major cities across the UK. Tickets go on sale September 17, with BFI members able to book a week earlier, so be ready as popular titles tend to sell out quickly.

Award Contenders and Noteworthy Films

The festival opens with Blitz, featuring Saoirse Ronan and Stephen Graham, set during World War II as a 12-year-old boy goes missing during Nazi bombings. Other gala screenings include Anora, winner of the Palme d’Or, about a stripper’s romance with a Russian oligarch’s son, and The Apprentice, which portrays a young Donald Trump and has stirred controversy due to its critical depiction of the former president.

Ralph Fiennes stars in Conclave, a film about electing a new pope, directed by Edward Berger. Angelina Jolie is generating buzz for her performance in Maria, a portrayal of opera legend Maria Callas. There’s also Emilia Pérez, a queer musical crime comedy featuring Selena Gomez, which could highlight Karla Sofia Gascon’s groundbreaking performance.

Luca Guadagnino’s Queer features Daniel Craig as an American expat in Mexico, while Mike Leigh reunites with actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths, expected to garner acclaim. Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door and the feel-good gala Joy, which tells the story of the first IVF baby, round out the program.

Documentaries are also prominent, including Elton John: Never Too Late, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the star’s farewell tour, and Twiggy, exploring the life of the 1960s icon. Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, featuring Amy Adams, promises a unique story about motherhood and transformation.

Andrea Arnold returns with Bird, while festive spirit can be found in That Christmas, based on Richard Curtis’s children’s books. The closing gala, Piece by Piece, takes an unconventional look at Pharrell Williams through the medium of Lego.

Denzel Washington’s son Malcolm makes his directorial debut with The Piano Lesson, while Jesse Eisenberg presents A Real Pain. The festival also includes early previews of anticipated TV series like A Thousand Blows and The Listeners.

International Highlights

Several foreign films are generating buzz, including All We Imagine As Light, which follows two nurses on a transformative road trip, and Dahomey, a quasi-documentary on colonization. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which examines political protests in Iran, and the Polish film Under the Volcano about the Ukraine invasion are also part of the lineup.

Extended Programme

Running from October 11 to October 27, the extended programme celebrates various forms of visual storytelling, featuring immersive experiences and video games for the first time. Major installations will be showcased across several locations, including a unique audio experience inspired by 1980s video games.

As Ulrich Schrauth, the festival’s XR and Immersive Programme Lead, notes, this year’s offerings leverage innovative digital technologies, promising an exciting experience for all attendees.