10 Films to Catch at the London Film Festival

It’s that time again! London is about to be overrun with cinephiles as cinemas across the city gear up for the 2026 BFI London Film Festival. With 251 titles screening across 12 days, there is bound to be something for everyone, from big-name premieres and highly anticipated releases to hidden gems and films from exciting new voices.

With so much to choose from, deciding what to watch can feel like a challenge in itself. So, whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or looking to make the most of your first LFF, here are 10 films we think you should check out.

10. Wicker

Based on the short story The Wicker Husband, the film starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård has already caught plenty of attention thanks to its unique (and slightly frisky) concept. Following a reclusive fisherwoman in a medieval town, the film sees her ostracised for rejecting institutionalised marriage, as well as for, apparently, smelling of fish. In retaliation, she sarcastically orders herself a husband made of wicker. But when her unusual creation is unexpectedly brought to life, it throws the closed-minded town into chaos.

9. The History of Concrete

When he finds himself with too much time on his hands, documentarian John Wilson decides to attend a Hallmark movie workshop, where he learns the tried-and-tested formula behind the festive favourites. Inspired by what he discovers, he decides to apply the same formula to his own film, this time investigating the surprisingly fascinating story of concrete. What follows is a dryly funny and deeply humane meditation on the modern world.

8. I Love Boosters

Debuting in America earlier this year, Boots Riley brings us this absurdist crime comedy starring Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle and Demi Moore. Following The Velvet Gang, a group of ‘boosters’ who make a living robbing fashion stores, the film takes a wild turn when a fashion designer steals the gang leader’s designs. What follows pushes the group into increasingly chaotic territory, resulting in a gloriously unpredictable fashion fever dream.

7. The Face of Horror

Anna Biller directs this blood-soaked homage to Technicolour horror, following Eleanor and her sister as they return as ghosts after a cruel betrayal results in their deaths. Back from the dead, the pair set out to deliver bloody vengeance on the man responsible for their father’s murder. Starring Jonah Hauer-King, Kristine Froseth and Ellie Bamber, the film looks set to be a vibrant feast for the eyes, combining Biller’s signature visual style with plenty of gothic horror.

6. Primetime

Receiving a seven-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, Robert Pattinson stars as To Catch a Predator presenter Chris Hansen in the narrative feature debut from documentary director Lance Oppenheim. When executives decide to move the show into a primetime slot, Hansen and his team are forced to take things up a notch, pushing the boundaries of the show in the process. With Pattinson leading the cast, this is shaping up to be one of the festival’s most talked about films.

5. Misty Green

Written and directed by Chris Rock, Misty Green follows a faded, award-winning Hollywood actress as she looks to revisit her past and make a comeback. Along the way, she reconnects with her former talent agent, forcing her to confront the choices that shaped her career and the person she has become. Starring Rosalind Eleazar, Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, Topher Grace and Rock himself, the film marks Rock’s return to the director’s chair.

4. Wildwood

The creatives behind Coraline bring us Wildwood, following Prue as she ventures into a mysterious forest inhabited by magical creatures in search of her kidnapped brother, who has been taken by a flock of crows. With its trailer already promising a stunning stop-motion spectacle, Wildwood looks set to be a visual treat and is sure to captivate audiences when it makes its worldwide premiere at the festival.

3. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

Starring Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, the film follows a devoutly religious hitman who, following the death of his wife, embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children. As the forces closing in around him grow stronger, he is forced to confront his grief, faith and the lengths he will go to for his family. Following the scrapped Marvel Blade project, director Bassam Tariq and Ali reunite to bring us this poignant portrait of grief, fatherhood and faith.

2. Elsinore

Andrew Scott stars as Scottish actor Ian Charleson as he steps into the National Theatre’s production of Hamlet, following the departure of Daniel Day-Lewis. The film focuses on the final months of Charleson’s life, as he prepares for and performs one of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles while seriously ill with AIDS. It offers a poignant look at Charleson’s determination to continue performing, even as his health deteriorates, and the personal and professional challenges he faced during this period.

1. The Debut

Jesse Eisenberg brings us a love letter to community theatre, as Julianne Moore stars as Mona, a quiet housewife who, on an impulse, auditions for a local production of an original musical. Under the spell of the strong-willed director Jerry, Mona’s life begins to unravel as she becomes increasingly consumed by the role. What starts as a simple way to escape her everyday life soon becomes something much more intense, blurring the lines between the character she is playing and who she really is.

The 2026 BFI London Film Festival runs from October 7th – 18th. Get your tickets here.