The 70th BFI London Film Festival reached its penultimate day on Saturday October 17, moving into a final weekend of premieres, jury screenings and special events that will conclude with a high profile Closing Night Gala on Sunday October 18. Festival organisers have scheduled a programme that mixes established auteurs, first films and audience favourites, keeping multiple London venues busy through the weekend.

What is happening this weekend

The festival’s final public days include Official Competition screenings vying for the Best Film Award, a slate of UK premieres and late screenings across BFI Southbank and partner cinemas. Alongside feature film programming, the LFF Expanded strand has presented immersive work and XR projects through the week, while industry events and talent showcases continued to bring filmmakers to London for panels and Q and A sessions.

A notable festival announcement confirmed earlier in the run is the selection of the Closing Night Gala for Sunday October 18. That event will feature the UK premiere of a new film chosen to close the 70th edition, alongside a red carpet and a formal awards announcement schedule across the final day of the festival.

Competition and awards timing

The Official Competition, judged by a jury convened for the 70th edition, has been screening its shortlisted films throughout the festival. Festival materials indicate the winner of the Best Film Award will be chosen by the LFF Awards Jury and revealed on Sunday October 18, the festival’s last evening. Other prizes, including awards for first features and documentary work, will be handed out during the festival close programming.

For audiences this weekend, that means many of the high profile competition titles will have repeat screenings or special events, giving cinephiles one last chance to see films under consideration before the jury announces its winners.

Why this matters for UK cinema and audiences

The BFI London Film Festival is one of the UK’s leading cultural events for film, acting as a marketplace, a platform for UK and international filmmakers and a barometer for awards season. The festival’s final weekend matters because it concentrates industry attention, often shaping critical momentum for titles that might go on to festival and awards runs beyond London. For UK audiences the festival is a rare opportunity to see international premieres and work not yet available in cinemas.

The festival also supports sector activity beyond screenings. Talent development initiatives and industry networking events held during LFF can accelerate distribution deals and co production talks. The presence of both established directors and first time filmmakers during the closing days underlines the festival’s role in showcasing a wide range of cinema voices.

Practical information for visitors

  • Screenings and events are spread across BFI Southbank and partner cinemas in London and selected venues around the UK.
  • Tickets for many headline screenings have already sold out, though some repeat shows and late releases are typically made available closer to the day through box offices and the festival planner.
  • Audience members voting in the LFF Audience Awards should check festival communications for closing procedures and ballot deadlines, as several prizes depend on audience choice.

The 70th BFI London Film Festival will formally end on Sunday October 18, with the awards announcement and the Closing Night Gala marking the close of the programme. The festival’s final day is expected to bring a concentrated programme of public screenings and industry activity, and to set out some of the films most likely to attract attention during the coming awards season.