Story perspectives

BFI London Film Festival Names 10 Best Film Finalists

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

The BFI London Film Festival announced ten films will compete for the Best Film Award in its 70th edition, 7-18 October 2026.
The competing titles are 7 Miles Out (UK), Act 3 (Ireland-UK), Glaxo (Brazil-Argentina), Imperium (Germany-France-Italy-Lithuania), Ketticè (Italy), Look Back (Japan), My Notes on Mars (Hungary-Austria), The Difficult Bride (France-Bangladesh-Portugal-Norway-Germany), The Idiot(s) (UK-Poland) and Woman Unknown (Denmark-Latvia-Sweden).
Tickets go on sale 17 September, with the programme revealed 2 September and the Best Film winner announced on Sunday 18 October.

History

Historical Context

In 1946 Cannes Film Festival held its first post-war edition, inviting films from at least eleven nations after the 1939 event was cancelled by World War II. The competition set a precedent for cross-border programming, a model echoed by the BFI London Film Festival’s 70th edition in October 2026, which will showcase co-productions from six continents. This lineage shows festivals’ role in expanding distribution and cultural diplomacy.

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Story summary

The BFI London Film Festival announced ten films will compete for the Best Film Award in its 70th edition, 7-18 October 2026.
The competing titles are 7 Miles Out (UK), Act 3 (Ireland-UK), Glaxo (Brazil-Argentina), Imperium (Germany-France-Italy-Lithuania), Ketticè (Italy), Look Back (Japan), My Notes on Mars (Hungary-Austria), The Difficult Bride (France-Bangladesh-Portugal-Norway-Germany), The Idiot(s) (UK-Poland) and Woman Unknown (Denmark-Latvia-Sweden).
Tickets go on sale 17 September, with the programme revealed 2 September and the Best Film winner announced on Sunday 18 October.

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