Film Festivals in London

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 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 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

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

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