BFI London Film Festival Scores Biggest In-Person Audience in 10 Years — Global Bulletin

The 68th BFI London Film Festival had the event’s highest in-person attendance in 10 years, it was revealed on Monday.

Across 12 days of screenings in London, the festival welcomed 230,342 guests, an 18% increase from last year’s edition. For 49% of those who booked tickets to events, it marked their first time at London Film Festival. In addition, 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.

“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,” festival director Kristy Matheson said in a statement. “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” took home the documentary prize and Jamie Benyon’s crime romp “Two Minutes” nabbed the short film honor.

The festival’s opening night saw the world premiere of Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” starring Saoirse Ronan, and it was closed by Pharrell William’s Lego biopic “Piece by Piece.” Other buzzy movies that screened at London Film Festival this year included “Emilia Pérez” (pictured above), “Anora,” “We Live in Time,” “The Wild Robot” and “Endurance.”