London Film | 7 – 18 October 2026
The 70th BFI London Film Festival is just a week away, and it has now revealed who will decide this year’s awards. The four competition juries will crown their winners on Sunday 18 October, the final day of the festival.
Here are five things to know.
1. Sam Pollard leads the Best Film jury
The Official Competition jury is headed by Sam Pollard, one of America’s most acclaimed documentary filmmakers. Over four decades he has won Peabody and Emmy Awards and earned an Oscar nomination, with films including MLK/FBI, Citizen Ashe and Tutu, which won the Peace Film Prize at this year’s Berlinale. He’s joined by Argentine filmmaker Mariano Llinás and Julie La Bassiere. Pollard says being asked left him “over the moon”.
2. Ten films compete for Best Film
The Official Competition features 7 Miles Out by Carol Morley, Act 3 by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, Glaxo by Benjamín Naishtat, Imperium by Sergei Loznitsa, Ketticè by Giovanni Tortorici, Look Back by Hirokazu Koreeda, My Notes on Mars by Lili Horvát, The Difficult Bride by Rubaiyat Hossain, The Idiot(s) by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert, and Woman Unknown by May el-Toukhy. It’s a great list to plan your festival around.
3. Amir El-Masry judges the best debuts
BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Amir El-Masry, star of Limbo and the Naseem Hamed biopic Giant, leads the First Feature Competition for the Sutherland Award. Five of his own films have premiered at the festival. Nominees include Animol, the directorial debut of actor Ashley Walters, and Lady by Olive Nwosu.
4. Documentaries and short films in the spotlight
Santosh director Sandhya Suri, whose film was shortlisted for the Oscars, heads the Documentary Competition for the Grierson Award, with films including Once Upon a Time in Harlem and Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing. Producer Helen Simmons, behind 100 Nights of Hero, leads the Short Film jury alongside comedian Leo Reich. Shorts include How to Hide It, co-directed by boxer Ramla Ali.
5. You can vote too
The LFF Audience Awards are back, so festivalgoers can vote for their favourite Feature Film, Short and British Discovery. With screenings across London and LFF on Tour taking films to cinemas around the UK, this 70th edition is the perfect excuse to see something new and have your say.
Festival info
70th BFI London Film Festival
Wednesday 7 – Sunday 18 October 2026
Awards announced Sunday 18 October
Venues across London, including BFI Southbank