LFF for Free

From illustrated talks to panel discussions, short film screenings, DJ nights and family fun workshops, LFF for Free is the London Film Festival’s programme of free events.

Happening at the BFI Southbank and open to all, every event is completely free of charge, although prior booking is required.

This year’s free talks and workshops delve into a fascinating array of topics, ranging from the power of storytelling and changing representations on screen to disability, identity, gaming, internet culture, documentary filmmaking and the future of cinema.

How to get tickets for LFF For Free events

Tickets are over-allocated to compensate for the potential of no-shows and occasionally, events may be oversubscribed.

Tickets open for booking at 10am on Thursday 1 October.

Doors will open 15 minutes before the advertised time. Seating is unallocated and tickets don’t guarantee entry: admission is on a first-come, first-served basis for those with tickets. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.  Book your tickets online here.

LFF For free talks & discussions programme

LFF For Free events take place at venues across the BFI Southbank including cinema screens and the Reuben Library.

Friday 9 October

Displacement Film Fund | 14:45–16:58 | 15+ 
Founded and led by Cate Blanchett, the Displacement Film Fund champions and funds the work of displaced filmmakers, or filmmakers with a proven track record in creating authentic storytelling on the experiences of displaced people.  Timely, surprising and intimate, the shorts in this critically acclaimed collection are directed by internationally renowned filmmakers

The Man I Love: Remembering the AIDS Crisis   | 20:00–21:00 | 15+
This event gives space for remembrance and reflection on the legacy and lasting impact of the AIDS epidemic.

Saturday 10 October

The Criticism That Made Me  | 11:00–12:00 
Members of the London Film Critics’ Circle share the impactful and influential writing that inspired them to pledge their pens to the cause of criticism.

Mark Cousins: The Story of Documentary Film | 11:30–12:30 
Acclaimed filmmaker and writer Mark Cousins joins for a fascinating exploration of documentary cinema.

How to Start a Podcast - Passion Podcasting and Fan Shows | 12:00–13:15
Discover how to turn your love of film and TV into a podcast, with the team behind the 90 Minutes or Less Film Fest Podcast.

Helen McCarthy: A Life in Manga and Anime | 13:00–14:00
Writer, speaker and scholar Helen McCarthy joins for a career conversation, covering her pioneering work exploring the worlds of manga and anime.

The Politics of Looking Good | 14:00–15:00 
A panel discussion inspired by one of this year's Gala screenings, I Love Boosters, looking at whether fashion can be a form of resistance.

Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television | 15:00–16:00
TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan takes a nostalgic trip through the history of queer representation on television.  

The Shape of Water: XR, Immersive Art and Environmental Storytelling | 16:00–17:00 
A panel discussion exploring how immersive technologies can deepen our connection to water, climate change and the stories shaping our planet.

Embracing (Bad) Taste with Polyester Zine | 17:00–18:00
Take the taste test with Ione Gamble and the team behind Polyester Zine.

Sunday 11 October

Declare Independence: Film Publishing Beyond the Mainstream  | 10:30–11:30
Join a panel of editors whose publications offer an alternative angle on film culture through mags, zines and newsletters.

We Are Family |  12:00–13:00 | 15+ 
This panel discussion explores documentaries that see filmmakers turning their camera on their own families.

The Edges of Cinema  | 13:00–14:00 
Scholar and critic Erika Balsom joins Film in Print to discuss her new collection of essays on 21st Century Film Culture.  

Editing the Auteur | 14:00–15:00
Who really makes a masterpiece? Discover the women who have helped shape some of cinema’s most celebrated films.

The Triumphs and Travesties of Book-to-Film Adaptation | 15:00–16:00
Join Louise Willder for a witty exploration of the best and worst book-to-film adaptations, from cinematic masterpieces to spectacular misfires.

Reality Check: True Crime and our Obsession with Real Stories | 16:00–17:00 | 15+
This talk looks at how real crime cases become gripping narratives and why audiences can’t get enough of them.

The Evolution of Horror | 17:00–18:00
Horror expert Mike Muncer leads a journey from podcast to the printed page, exploring the ever-fertile landscape of the horror genre.

Tuesday 13 October

Girls On Film Podcast – Live at LFF | 14:00–15:00
Join us for a live edition of Girls On Film, the award-winning podcast hosted by critic Anna Smith.

Thursday 15 October

Campaigns for Justice: From the Bradford 12 to Today | 19:30–20:30
A conversation that reflects on both past and present-day community activism in the fight against racism and injustice.

Saturday 17 October

Beyond the Screen: How Stories Create Change | 11:00–12:00
Through the perspectives and experiences of Black women across the filmmaking ecosystem, this conversation explores the role of film and storytelling in our communities, culture and society and the different ways we contribute to change.

A Life in Scripts: In Conversation with Andrew Davies | 13:00–14:00
Multi-award-winning screenwriter, playwright and novelist Andrew Davies discusses his memoir, An Unsuitable Boy: A Life in Scripts. 

What Makes a Man a Man? | 14:00–15:00 | 15+ 
In this discussion, a panel will explore how screen culture and media shape, challenge and complicate modern ideas of masculinity. 

Into the Web: How Internet Culture is Transforming Filmmaking | 15:00–16:00
Exploring the growing relationship between the internet and filmmaking, and how digital platforms are creating new opportunities for emerging filmmakers.

Versions of Me |16:00–17:00 
This panel discussion explores autism, masking and the shifting nature of identity through discussion and audience reflection.

Behind the Screens: The Film Locations Quiz | 17:00–18:30  
Celebrating the launch of Jane Crowther’s Behind the Screens: 100 Iconic Locations That Made Movie History with a quiz that puts renowned film locations centre stage.

Sunday 18 October

From Console to Cinema | 11:00–12:00
This discussion looks at how gaming worlds captivate billions and the ways Hollywood is racing to turn them into its next generation of hit films and series.

Adam Pearson: Zero Intention of Living Quietly  | 11:30–12:30
Actor, broadcaster, and leading disability advocate Adam Pearson discusses his career and his influential advocacy work for more inclusive storytelling and authentic representation.

In Praise of Stillness: Exploring the Beauty of Slow Cinema | 12:00–13:00 | 15+
An illustrated talk about one of contemporary cinema’s most distinctive filmmaking styles.

Monstrous? Rethinking Disability in Horror | 13:00–14:00
Dr Darren Gray discusses his book, Horror and Disability: Representations of Disability in Twenty-First-Century Film and Television. 

No Way Out? Institutions and Black British Screen Stories | 14:00–15:00 | 15+
Discover how Black British film and television examine identity, belonging and the institutions that shape contemporary Britain.

The Laughter of the Unheard: How Moving Image Shapes Collective Joy  | 13:30–14:45
Explore how film, television and grassroots media capture moments of collective joy, and how these experiences are remembered, shared and transformed into our cultural memory.

The Cinema That Changed Everything | 15:00–16:00
Each member of a panel of filmmakers chooses one film movement or landmark film they feel transformed the medium.

Made of Many: Reclaiming Identity Through Storytelling | 16:00–17:00
An interactive workshop exploring identity through film, moving image and the stories we choose to tell.

Queens of the Night: Female Vampires on Screen | 17:00–18:00 | 15+ 
Step into the seductive, dangerous and ever-evolving world of cinema’s most captivating immortal: the female vampire.

LFF For Free DJ Nights at London Film Festival 2026

Put you dancing shoes on and stay on at the BFI Bar late with these great DJ Nights curated to be in step with some of this year's biggest film screenings. DJ nights kick off from 9pm in the BFI Bar until 1am and are for those 18+ only.

FRI 9 OCT | NYC After Dark
A DJ night inspired by the 1980s New York of Ira Sachs’ The Man I Love.

SAT 10 OCT |  Ritmos de América Latina
Get on the dancefloor and celebrate the spirit of Latin American film with a night of music from across the region.

FRI 16 OCT |  7 Miles Out: Journey to The Haçienda
DJ Terry T-Rex leads a dance-floor journey through the indie dance, acid house, Balearic sounds and warehouse classics that shaped a generation.

SAT 17 OCT | Club Labor: Back to 2016
A nostalgic trip back to 2016, celebrating the unforgettable hits that defined one of music’s most exciting years.

LFF FOR FREE EVENTS FOR FAMILIES

SAT 10 OCT |  Build A Bug | 10:15–11:30
Step into the world of tiny heroes and create your own extraordinary insect companion, in this hands-on craft activity inspired by A Mighty Adventure.

SAT 10 OCT | The Mermaid Parade | 12:15–1:30
This magical crafting adventure is inspired by the captivating film Julián.

SUN 11 OCT | Into the Woods: Wildwood Mask Making | 12:15–13:30
Journey into the hidden world of Laika Studio's new stop-motion animation film Wildwood by making a magical mask inspired by its mysterious forest and fantastical creatures.