The 70th BFI London Film Festival has added seven films to its 2026 programme, including Artificial, Primetime and Misty Green. Robert Eggers and Javier Bardem will also join the festival for newly announced Screen Talks.
The additions bring new work from Luca Guadagnino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jonathan Glazer and Chris Rock to the line-up. This year’s festival runs from October 7 to October 18, with general booking opening on September 17.
‘Artificial’ Joins The London Film Festival Gala Line-Up
Guadagnino’s Artificial will receive its international premiere as part of the Gala strand. Andrew Garfield plays Sam Altman in a drama about the rise of OpenAI and the period in which its co-founder was removed as CEO.
Written by Simon Rich, the 140-minute film also stars Yura Borisov, Monica Barbaro, Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Ike Barinholtz and Mark Rylance. It marks another festival appearance for the director following Queer in 2024 and After the Hunt in 2025.
Screenings take place at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on October 11 at 21:00 and October 16 at 11:30, with a Vue West End screening on October 15 at 15:30.
Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ And Chris Rock’s ‘Misty Green’ Added
Robert Pattinson leads Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, which receives its UK premiere in the Thrill strand. Pattinson plays Chris Hansen in a drama centred on To Catch a Predator and the pressure on its production team as the programme moves into a primetime slot.
The film is written by Ajon Singh, with a cast including Merritt Wever and Anna Faris. The 107-minute A24 title screens at BFI IMAX on October 11 at 18:00.
Rock’s Misty Green also receives its UK premiere, joining the Journey strand. Rosalind Eleazar plays an actress whose hopes of rebuilding her career are reignited by the return of an old acquaintance. Rock writes and directs the Hollywood comedy, with Adam Driver and Daniel Kaluuya also starring.
The 104-minute film screens at Vue West End on October 12 at 18:30 and BFI Southbank on October 18 at 18:15.
Paul Thomas Anderson And Jonathan Glazer Bring Music Films To LFF
Anderson’s Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall will have its UK premiere in the Create strand. The 71-minute concert film captures the Geese frontman’s solo piano performance at the New York venue in December 2025, recorded through a collaboration between Anderson and fellow filmmaker Benny Safdie.
It screens at Prince Charles Cinema on October 7 at 18:30 and BFI Southbank on October 8 at 15:00.
Glazer’s Joy of Joys receives its European premiere in the same strand. Devised with Mica Levi, the 38-minute film follows the making of War Child’s HELP(2) record through footage shot by children.
London schoolchildren film recording sessions at Abbey Road featuring artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Arctic Monkeys and Jarvis Cocker. Those images sit alongside glimpses of daily life recorded by children in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.
Joy of Joys screens at Vue West End on October 11 at 13:45.
‘Everest: The Other Side’ And ‘Inherit’ Receive UK Premieres
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the directors of Free Solo, return with Everest: The Other Side. The documentary follows mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson and their ambition to climb and ski down Everest’s north face.
The 113-minute film joins the Journey strand, screening at Vue West End on October 10 at 12:45 and BFI Southbank on October 13 at 18:20.
Thai horror Inherit, directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun, joins the Cult strand. A wealthy family is unsettled by the arrival of a relative who claims to be 80 despite looking like a young woman, with her presence exposing increasingly sinister secrets.
Starring Davika Hoorne, Baipor Thitiya Jirapornsilp and Sinjai Plengpanich, the 129-minute film screens at Curzon Soho on October 9 at 20:50 and Prince Charles Cinema on October 10 at 11:10.
When Are The Robert Eggers And Javier Bardem Screen Talks?
Both newly announced Screen Talks take place on October 11. Bardem’s conversation begins at 10:30 at Curzon Soho, accompanying his appearances in festival Gala titles The Beloved and Bunker.
Eggers takes the stage at Vue West End at 17:30 for a discussion of his career and filmmaking. His films include The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman and Nosferatu. The talk comes ahead of his next film, Werwulf, which the BFI’s announcement lists for a January 1, 2027 opening.
How To Book London Film Festival 2026 Tickets
Tickets go on general sale on September 17 at 10:00. Priority booking opens for BFI Patrons on September 9 at 10:00 and BFI Members on September 10 at 10:00.
For more on booking dates and prices, read Popped’s London Film Festival 2026 ticket guide. The programme and booking information are available on the official BFI London Film Festival website.
