The biggest film fest in the UK is back as the BFI London Film Festival kicks off from Wednesday, October 5 to Sunday, October 16.
Tickets for the event are on sale now, with plenty of different options to choose from, including concessions for students, 25 and under, and more.
Of course, the highlight of the festival are the films themselves, with 2022 boasting some massive releases to get audiences excited.
They range from the best of British to Hollywood’s finest, all bringing together some of the most talented stars, directors, screenwriters in the industry.
Here is everything you need to know about the London Film Festival.
What films are premiering at the London Film Festival?
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Coming to Netflix on December 23, 2022, Glass Onion is the sequel to the critically acclaimed modern murder mystery Knives Out.
Once again directed by Looper and Star Wars: The Last Jedi filmmaker Rian Johnson, he brings back Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc for Death on the Nile style romp.
The synopsis simple states: “Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece for his latest case.”
A new all-star cast orbits the sleuth, including Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Ethan Hawke, Jessica Henwich, Katheryn Hahn, Madelyn Cline, Janelle Monáe and Leslie Odom Jr.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
Pride and Lungs director Matthew Warchus is back with his biggest film yet, a new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved classic Matilda.
Heading to UK cinemas on November 25, Alisha Weir plays the title role, best known for the show Darklands.
The synopsis reads: “Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.”
The cast also includes Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey, Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull, Andrea Riseborough as Mrs Wormwood and Stephen Graham as Mr Wormwood.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Coming hot off the heels of Disney+’s latest effort with the property, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is set to be a much darker take on the story than audiences are used to.
This will be no surprise to fans of the director, as Guillermo is best know for Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water and Nightmare Alley.
This is another Netflix exclusive, set to premiere on December 9 with the streamer’s synopsis stating: “A darker version of the classic children's fairy tale of a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy.”
The animated film features a star-studded voice cast including Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J Cricket, Ron Perlman as Podesta, Finn Wolfhard as Candlewick and Gregory Mann as Pinocchio.
My Policeman
After the drama-riddled launch of Don’t Worry Darling, Harry Styles is fronting another drama, My Policeman.
Genius and Red filmmaker Michael Grandage sits in the director’s chair, with the cast also including Emma Corrin, Gina McKee, Linus Roache, Rupert Evertt and David Dawson.
Coming to Amazon Prime Video on November 4, the synopsis reads: “The arrival of Patrick into Marion and Tom's home triggers the exploration of seismic events from 40 years previously.”
The Banshees of Inisherin
In Bruges director Martin McDonagh has reunited with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson for another comedy-drama.
The Banshees of Inisherin follows two lifelong friends as they “find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.”
Barry Keoghan is also in the cast, who recently made his debut as the Joker in The Batman.
The film will be released nationwide on October 21.
The Wonder
Another Don’t Worry Darling alumni Florence Pugh stars in The Wonder, a psychological thriller from Netflix.
Premiering on the platform on November 16, Florence is joined by Niamh Algar, Ciarán Hinds, Tom Burke, Toby Jones, Elaine Cassidy and David Willmot.
Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio sits in the director’s chair, best known for the films Disobedience, A Fantastic Woman and Gloria.
The synopsis reads: “A tale of two strangers who transform each other's lives, a psychological thriller, and a story of love pitted against evil.”
She Said
Actress and director Maria Schrader is the filmmaker behind She Said, based on a real Pulitzer prize-winning investigation.
The synopsis reads: “New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor break one of the most important stories in a generation — a story that helped launch the #MeToo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood.”
Carey Mulligan stars as Megan, while Zoe Kazan takes on the role of Jodi with the film premiering nationwide on November 25.
They are joined by a cast including Samantha Morton, Tom Pelphrey, Jennifer Ehle, Andre, Braugher and Patricia Clarkson.
Other major premieres include:
- Empire of Light (stars Olivia Colman and Michael Ward)
- Living (stars Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood)
- Decision to Leave (stars Tang Wei and Park Hae-il)
- White Noise (stars Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig)
How to get tickets for the London film festival?
To book your tickets to any of the screenings, you can either do it over the phone or in person.
The contact number is 020 7928 3232 and is open 10am to 8.30pm pre-festival and 10 to 9.30pm during the festival.
In person tickets can be bought from the BFI Southbank between 11am and 8.30pm and Queen’s Walk ticket office located at SE1 8XX between 10am and 8.30pm.
Ticket prices:
- Evening and weekend screenings - £16
- Matinees (before 17:00 Mon to Fri and before 12:00 Sat and Sun) - £10 to £16 (£8 concessions)
- Gala and Special Presentation premieres - £10 – £30
- Opening & Closing Night gala premieres - £10 – £40
- Screen Talks from - £18
- Surprise film - £20
- Experimenta screenings - £10
- Expanded exhibitions from £10 – £20
- BFI Player - £10 (£8 for BFI Members)
- Experimenta pass (3 screenings) - £21
- Expanded pass - £40
- Discovery Passes (3 films from curated selections) - £27
- Students (evening and weekend) - £10
- 25 and Under - £5
Full ticketing information can be fond on the BFI website.
