London Film Festival: 60 free events this October

The 68th BFI London Film Festival (LFF) is back with its exciting LFF for Free programme, offering more than 60 events across London from 10th to 27th October 2024. This is a brilliant opportunity for families, film lovers, and curious minds to experience a wide range of free activities. Booking opens on Thursday, 3rd October at 10:00 BST, so be sure to visit www.bfi.org.uk/lff.

Celebrating 30 years of DreamWorks Animation

One of the festival’s top highlights is the celebration of DreamWorks Animation’s 30th anniversary. DreamWorks President, Margie Cohn, and The Wild Robot director Chris Sanders will discuss the studio’s groundbreaking animation over the past three decades. Don’t miss the DreamWorks 30th Anniversary Exhibition at gallery@oxo, showcasing the studio’s creative journey and vision.

Exciting screenings and creative workshops

If you’re following Alfonso Cuaron’s Disclaimer, there’s a fantastic chance to catch Episodes 4-7 for free as part of the festival. Meanwhile, children can get involved in festive fun at the That Christmas Festive Workshop, an ideal family-friendly activity during the event.

Film and gaming collide

For the first time, the festival will introduce a Games Lounge for gaming fans. Gaming for Real explores the world of Machinima, with insights from the creators behind Grand Theft Hamlet. This exciting blend of video games and cinema will be a key event for tech-savvy attendees.

Family fun and creative activities

Families are spoilt for choice with fun, hands-on activities. Enjoy Savages-inspired poster-making and model-making workshops, perfect for creative youngsters. For something different, try the Blink collage workshop, where kids can get crafty while learning about travel and storytelling.

DJ nights and short films

Music fans can enjoy DJ nights inspired by 60s icon Twiggy, 80s Ska, and Brazilian beats, all linked to Pharrell Williams’ new documentary Piece by Piece. Film enthusiasts can also catch short films from new filmmakers, which explore topics like resistance and neurodiversity. These will also be available on BFI Player for free UK-wide streaming.

Immersive experiences with LFF Expanded

For those looking for something futuristic, LFF Expanded offers free immersive experiences with XR (extended reality) works. These are available at Outernet, BFI IMAX, and Bargehouse @ OXO Wharf, allowing you to dive into the future of cinema and virtual storytelling.

BFI Film Academy and global talks

Young filmmakers should keep an eye on the BFI Film Academy Young Programmers events, created and curated by young people. Additionally, selected LFF Screen Talks with leading filmmakers will be available worldwide on BFI YouTube, making the festival even more accessible.

Free events across London

Most LFF for Free events will take place at BFI Southbank and gallery@oxo over the weekends of 12-13 October and 19-20 October. However, there are more free experiences across London and online throughout the festival. Kristy Matheson, the festival director, said, “Our 2024 programme is bursting with ideas and events to entice film fans and the cinematically curious alike.”

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy these incredible events. Visit www.bfi.org.uk/lff to explore the full lineup and book your tickets from 3rd October.

The 68th BFI London Film Festival runs from Wednesday 9th October to Sunday 20th October, 2024, with additional screenings and events taking place before and after these dates.