London is a familiar backdrop for many a box-office hit. And London is also home to some of the world’s top film festivals.
Avid cinema-goers, budding directors, aspiring actors and casual viewers will all find something to delight and inspire here all year round.
From the long-running London Film Festival to smaller, more recently established festivals, London's film festival programme is as diverse as the capital itself. See work by female directors at the Birds Eye Film Festival or explore Latin America at the Discovering Latin America Festival. And the London Children’s Film Festival is a must for families.
Festival Calendar
Emerge and See - Various Dates
Emergeandsee promotes young short-filmmakers. Student talent is highlighted through events in London, Berlin and Budapest. This is your chance to catch some of the most innovative and compelling work around.
Visit the Emergeandsee website
Birds Eye Film Festival - Throughout the year
This London-based film festival showcases female directors. An exciting programme of shorts, documentaries and features is screened each year. Films in 2007 focused on developing countries and the political South.
Visit the Birds Eye Film Festival website
Halloween Short Film Festival - January
Bringing together the best in short films, art and music, this festival is a mixture of film screenings, live performance and special events. It also highlights the winners of the VX Auteur Theory Short Film competition.
Visit the Halloween Short Film Festival website.
The Disability Film Festival - January
The Disability Film Festival returns, with a mix of new films and old favourites. Each film or event will be soft-titled, audio-described, BSL interpreted and/or Palantype transcribed as appropriate. Visit the Disability Film Festival website
London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - March/ April
A strong and eclectic programme of features, shorts, artists' film and video and experimental work, as well as a whole host of discussions and special events.
Visit the London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival website
Sci-Fi London - May
Feed your imagination at this annual festival dedicated to the science fiction and fantasy genre! The event aims to attract an audience beyond die-hard fans and the line-up blends innovative and visually stunning new films with classics rarely seen on the big screen.
Visit the Sci-Fi London website
Rushes - Soho Shorts Festival - July/ August
One of the coolest festivals on the block and now an established event on the shorts scene, the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival is now in its 10th year. The annual competition welcomes both established filmmakers and newcomers.
Visit the Soho Shorts website
Portobello Film Festival - August
This completely free festival was created in 1996 to provide a forum for innovative filmmakers and to revive the British film industry. The festival promotes new cinematographers and films made on different formats.
Visit the Portobello Film Festival website
Film4 Summer Screen - August
The majestic courtyard at Somerset House hosts a state-of-the-art screen and sound system, creating a very special place to relax and enjoy the screenings. A mixed programme ensures that there is something for all movie buffs, from thrillers and fantasy to comedy and horror.
Visit the Somerset House website
FrightFest Film Festival - August
Celebrating everything sci-fi, fantasy, thriller and horror-esque in cinema, this four-day festival takes place every August Bank Holiday weekend. The most frightening film festival in the UK, 2006 saw over 30 shorts and features crammed into 4 days.
Visit the FrightFest Film Festival website
Raindance Film Festival - September/ October
Raindance is dedicated to fostering and promoting independent film from the UK and around the world. Each year, lots of independent movies are shown during a 2-week period, the majority from first-time directors.
Visit the Raindance Film Festival website
The Times BFI London Film Festival - October/November
London's biggest film festival showcases the best in cinema from both British and international filmmakers. Now in its 52nd year, you can expect to see over 300 features and shorts from around the world, including works that would not normally be screened in the UK.
Visit the Times BFI London website.
Russian Film Festival - October/November
See some of the best films coming out of Russia each year at London's Russian Film Festival. The programme includes new releases as well as Russian movie classics. All films have English subtitles.
Visit the Academia Rossica website
BFM International Film Festival - November
Bringing world-class black cinema to mainstream audiences in London, the BFM International Film Festival has been running for more than 10 years. The festival includes Caribbean, African, Latin, US, hip-hop and faith films. It also introduces emerging UK talent.
Visit the BFM International website.
London Children's Film Festival - November
A relatively new addition to the festival scene, the London Children's Film Festival is held at the Barbican. The varied programme of screenings, workshops and events is specifically tailored for young children and families.
Visit the London Children's Film Festival website
German Film Festival - November
The German Film Festival has been running for over 10 years now and takes place at the Curzon Soho. The German Film Festival brings an eclectic mix of films, bringing to the screen stories from Germany and further afield, by both established directors and bright new talents. Many evening screenings are followed by a Q&A with the director of the film.
Visit the German Film Festival website
Discovering Latin America Film Festival - November/ December
Festival highlighting the best films to emerge from Latin America each year including internationally acclaimed films, documentaries and shorts.
Visit the Discovering Latin America Film Festival website
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