The BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its 2023 LFF For Free programme, including special screenings of Loki, family events around Chicken Run and DJ nights inspired by Anita Pallenberg along with Scala All-nighters.
LFF For Free is open to everyone with a wide range of events, from family-focused activities to talks with household names and new talent.
There will be short film screenings, Augmented Reality walks and film-inspired music nights – all free of charge with tickets available from Monday September 25.
The headline events for this year’s festival are special preview screenings of the first two episodes of Marvel Studio’s season two of Loki, introduced by the director and executive producer.
There is also a Chicken Run-inspired model making class – ahead of the world premiere of Chicken Run: The Dawn of the Nugget at the festival – plus a conversation with writers Michael Morpurgo and Frank Cottrell Boyce around Kensuke’s Kingdom, one of Morpurgo’s beloved novels, which has been adapted into an animated film soon to be released.
For those who can’t attend in person, short film collections will be available to stream UK-wide, for free, on BFI Player, as well a programme of high-profile LFF Screen Talks available globally on BFI YouTube.
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “We can’t wait to invite film fans across London to dive into these fantastic events that explore so many facets of moving image culture and allow audiences to meet the makers and even make their own robot.
“ Our LFF Free programme has events for all ages from family workshops, screenings, club nights and fascinating talks – so mark your calendars and make some time to pop by and celebrate LFF with us.”
As part of the BMW Filmmaking Challenge, LFF For Free will present an exclusive preview screening and panel event, focused on supporting the creativity of the UK’s future filmmaking talent.
The five films created from the challenge were judged by industry experts including Doctor Who himself, Ncuti Gatwa, along with Terri White and Asif Kapadia. Host Edith Bowman will interview the filmmaking teams and the final winning film will then receive its premiere at the Closing Night Gala of the Festival.
Also on the schedule are The Ghibliotheque Guide to Hayao Miyazaki; a guided tour through the work and worldview of the Studio Ghibli co-founder and legendary animation director.
And there will be drop-in lunchtime talks from behind-the-camera creatives and talent at The Festival Café across the festival fortnight, which runs from October 4 to 15.
