The 69th BFI London Film Festival revealed its 2025 program, headlined by Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, a film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. The festival will showcase a diverse collection of films including Bradley Cooper’s third directorial project, Is This Thing On?, featuring Will Arnett and Laura Dern.
A Showcase of Anticipated Premieres and Directorial Debuts
The festival will also premiere James Lucas’s biopic Moss & Freud, about supermodel Kate Moss, with Ellie Bamber in the lead role. Another highlight is Isabella Eklöf’s adaptation of Nick Cave’s novel, The Death of Bunny Munro, starring Matt Smith, set to debut in the series section of the festival.
Additionally, Rian Johnson’s new film Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment in his Knives Out trilogy, will open the festival. Noah Baumbach brings Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, and Laura Dern, while Kristen Stewart makes her directorial debut with The Chronology of Water.
Festival Closing and Program Highlights
The festival will close with Julia Jackman’s 100 Nights of Hero, adapted from Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel. Overall, the BFI London Film Festival will present 247 features, including six world premieres, ten international premieres, and eleven European premieres.
Alongside film screenings, the festival will host an industry forum featuring a series of talks by prominent filmmakers such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Richard Linklater, offering insights into the current state of cinema.
Festival Director Invites Audiences to Experience 2025’s Film Innovations
Kristy Matheson, director of the BFI London Film Festival, expressed enthusiasm about the event, stating,
“This autumn we invite audiences to craft their own festival journey across our programme of premiere screenings, dynamic interactive exhibitions and compelling talks programmes with some of cinemas leading practitioners,”
—Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director
She added,
“We look forward to you joining us this year to experience the incredible state of the medium in 2025 – brimming with formal innovations, provocations and essential roadmaps for navigating the world around us.”
—Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director
The inclusion of Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet in the lineup underscores the festival’s commitment to showcasing influential contemporary cinema, promising a significant cultural event for audiences and industry professionals alike.
