BFI London Film Festival mid-run packs red carpet with 'Artificial' gala

On 10 October 2026 the 70th BFI London Film Festival continued its 12-day run across the capital, with high-profile screenings at the Royal Festival Hall on Southbank and partner venues. The festival opened on 7 October with Simon Stone's 'Elsinore' starring Olivia Colman and closes 18 October with Jesse Eisenberg's directorial follow-up 'The Debut'. On Saturday ticket-holders filled galas for Brad Bird's neo-noir animation 'Ray Gunn', Danny Boyle's 'Ink' starring Guy Pearce as a thinly veiled media tycoon, and premieres of 'Bunker', 'Behemoth!', 'Club Kid', 'A Long Winter', 'Wild Horse Nine' and 'Paper Tiger'. The following day's headline event, Luca Guadagnino's AI drama 'Artificial' with Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, dominated festival-day previews published on 10 October. BFI said the 2026 edition's selection spans 61 countries, with 40 per cent of features directed by women. The festival overlaps with industry strand LFF Expanded on immersive storytelling. The 70th anniversary programme is held across the South Bank, Leicester Square and nine partner cities including Belfast, Glasgow and Sheffield.