It was revealed on Monday that the 68th BFI London Film Festival had the event’s highest in-person attendance in 10 years.
Across 12 days of screenings in London, the festival welcomed an 18% increase in guests compared to last year’s edition, which had 230,342 guests. For 49% of those who booked tickets to events, it marked their first time at the London Film Festival. Additionally, the occupancy across in-person events and screenings increased to 92% from last year’s 90%. Over 815 filmmakers, XR artists, and creatives from around the world presented work at the festival, and its industry forum had 3,000 delegates.
Festival director Kristy Matheson said “Our biggest thanks go to the artists and industry colleagues from the U.K. and across the globe who fueled our collective curiosity this year,” She continues with “It was a delight to see audiences engage with each other and this program — proving once again the joy and comfort we all find in screen culture.”
The winners of this year’s audience awards have also been unveiled, as chosen by the public. Darren Thornton’s dramedy Four Mothers won for best feature, Sophie Compton and Daisy-May Hudson’s Holloway snagged the documentary prize and Jamie Benyon’s crime romp Two Minutes took home the short film honor.
The opening night of the festival saw the world premiere of Steve McQueen’s Blitz, starring Saoirse Ronan, and closed with Pharrell Williams’ Lego biopic Piece By Piece. Other buzzy movies screened at the London Film Festival this year included Emilia Pérez, Anora, We Live In Time, The Wild Robot, and Endurance.
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