The 69th BFI London Film Festival Announce Competition Films
Films starring Saoirse Ronan, Tessa Thompson, George MacKay and Amanda Seyfried set to compete
The BFI have announced today the films selected to screen in Official Competition for the 69th BFI London Film Festival. They include films starring Saoirse Ronan, Tessa Thompson, George MacKay and Amanda Seyfried.
The 10 films will be contending for the Festival’s prestigious Best Film Award. The 2025 nominated films showcase an range of talent from across the world, with 12 countries represented across the selection.
This year’s Official Competition brings together new work from filmmakers across the globe, with films from the UK, USA, Argentina, Italy, South Korea, Vietnam, Tunisia and beyond. Promising to showcase a wide range of voices and styles, from intimate portraits and historical epics, to formally daring hybrids of fiction and documentary.
BAD APPLES (UK, dir Jonatan Etzler)
Academy Award® nominee Saoirse Ronan plays a primary school teacher striving to inspire her students in Jonatan Etzler’s darkly humorous and biting satirical comedy.
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL: THE KWAME BRATHWAITE STORY (UK-USA 2025 dir. Yemi Bamiro)
Yemi Bamiro’s documentary is a powerful tribute to photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite, whose work helped define the transformative ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement.
BLACK RABBIT, WHITE RABBIT (Tajikistan-United Arab Emirates, dir. Shahram Mokri)
A suspicious film prop, a mysterious audition, a conspiratorial road incident and multiple rabbits are woven together in this bold and beguiling drama from Tajikistan.
HAIR, PAPER, WATER… (Belgium-France-Vietnam, dir. Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý)
Trương Minh Quý (Viet and Nam) and Nicolas Graux (Century of Smoke) create a mythical work of non-fiction – an ode to an elderly healer and to Rục, her endangered mother tongue.
HEDDA (USA, dir-scr. Nia DaCosta)
Tessa Thompson gives a mesmerising performance in Candyman director Nia DaCosta’s inventive and stylish reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s renowned play.
LANDMARKS (Argentina-USA-Mexico-France-Netherlands, dir. Lucrecia Martel)
Artistic ambition and political advocacy meld in Lucrecia Martel’s documentary, a bold and beautiful reflection on the death and legacy of indigenous activist Javier Chocobar.
ROSE OF NEVADA (UK, dir-scr. Mark Jenkin)
Mark Jenkin’s haunted time-travelling odyssey brings a long-lost ship unexpectedly back to harbour, only for a new crew to set sail and re-enter the past. George MacKay and Callum Turner impress in Jenkin’s bold, prismatic exploration of identity, grief and vagaries of time.
THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE (UK, dir. Mona Fastvold)
Mona Fastvol’s sublime film on revolutionary preacher Ann Lee is grounded by a metamorphic performance from Amanda Seyfried.
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB (Tunisia-France, dir-scr Kaouther Ben Hania)
Gathering audio from actual phone conversations, Kaouther Ben Hania’s devastating film recounts the story behind the murder of Hind Rajab.
THE WORLD OF LOVE (South Korea, dir-scr. Yoon Ga-eun)
A high school student navigates love, friendship and a traumatic past in this delicately woven and quietly powerful drama from South Korean director Yoon Ga-eun.
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “Each title in this selection offers a bold and innovative approach to the medium. We are delighted to welcome filmmakers into the competition who’ve previously screened with the LFF alongside those making their first appearance at the festival. Featuring fiction, documentary and hybrid works drawn from global and UK talents, our 2025 Official Competition is sure to excite.”
The 69th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 8th October – Sunday 19th October. We will be hoping to be at this year’s festival, do mark in your diaries 3rd September when we learn about the full line-up.
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