LFF for Free offers a free way into the 70th BFI London Film Festival, with short films, filmmaker conversations, family activities and DJ nights at BFI Southbank on selected dates from 7 to 18 October 2026. Choose an individual event to fit into a South Bank visit; the free programme does not extend to all festival screenings or Screen Talks.
Highlights include a Displacement Film Fund short-film collection introduced in person by Cate Blanchett and participating filmmakers. There are also talks featuring Mark Cousins, Adam Pearson and Andrew Davies, plus a Girls on Film live podcast with Carol Morley among its guests.
Admission to LFF for Free events is free, and booking opens on Thursday 1 October 2026 at 10am London time, with a maximum of two tickets per person. Free tickets do not guarantee entry: places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early. Use the festival’s official Events hub to check each activity’s date, time, age restrictions and booking details.
BFI Southbank is worth visiting beyond the festival for its Mediatheque, where you can explore material from the BFI National Archive free of charge.