The BFI London Film Festival took place from 9th-20th of October 2024.  

 

Over the 11 days of the festival many highly anticipated films were be shown in cinemas throughout London including the BFI Southbank, the Southbank Centre and Curzon Mayfair.

 

In addition there were talks from industry experts taking place such as directors Denis Villeneuve and Sean Baker.

 

Here is a list of some of the films you may want to look out for which were shown at the festival this year.

 

Blitz

Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen, premiered at the London Film Festival.

 

The film is set in World War II during the evacuation of children from London to the countryside due to bombings by German forces and follows George (Elliott Heffernan), a young boy on his journey back to his mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) after he, like many other children, was sent away.

 

This would be a good watch for those interested in historical dramas.

 

Conclave 

Conclave is directed by Edward Berger, whose previous directorial credits include the Academy Award winning All Quiet on the Western Front.

 

Conclave’s cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini and is adapted from Robert Harris’s novel ‘Conclave’ (2016) which follows the fictional story of a conclave after the death of the pope and the competition between cardinals to become the next pope.

 

If you want a drama with lots of plot twists, this would be a good film to consider watching .

 

Anora

Director, Sean Baker’s highly anticipated film Anora staring Mikey Madison tells the story of Anora, an exotic dancer, who marries Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn) and his family’s subsequent attempt to get the marriage annulled.

 

Lucy Wilmot, who has seen the film, described it as ‘A dazzling, electric film.’

 

This would be a great film to watch if you were looking for a fast-paced, thrilling comedy-drama.

 

A Real Pain

Directed by and starring Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain follows cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) on a trip through Poland after the death of their Polish grandmother.

 

This would be a good film to consider watching you were looking for a comedy-drama.

 

Nickel Boys

Nickel Boys, directed by RaMell Ross, based on the novel ‘The Nickel Boys’ (2019) by Colson Whitehead, set in 1960s Florida, depicts the story of two teens, Elwood played by Ethan Herisse and Turner played by Brandon Wilson, who meet at a reformatory called ‘Nickel Academy’ and their friendship.

 

This would be fascinating for people interested in experimental film makings as it is shot from first-person perspectives.

 

We Live in Time

We Live in Time, directed by John Crowley, tells the story of Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh) over many years from Almut meeting Tobias when she hit him with her car, to the birth of their daughter, to Almut’s cancer diagnosis.

 

This would be a good watch if you were looking for an emotional drama that also includes elements of romance.