London film festival sets screen talks with Andrew Scott and more
The BFI London Film Festival sets a star-packed slate of screen talks for its 70th edition, featuring Andrew Scott, Cynthia Erivo, Jesse Eisenberg, Sofia Coppola, Danny Boyle and more. Several participants are already on early awards contender lists, making the Oct. 7–18 program a major draw for film fans and industry watchers.
The British Film Institute unveiled the lineup as the festival prepares to open with Scott's "Elsinore" and close with Eisenberg's directorial debut "The Debut." For more festival and streaming coverage, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs Oct. 7–18 with screen talks featuring Andrew Scott, Cynthia Erivo, Jesse Eisenberg, Sofia Coppola and Danny Boyle.
- Most talks take place at BFI Southbank; Danny Boyle's session moves to Home in Manchester—the first outside London.
- Talks stream on BFI Player and BFI YouTube, extending reach beyond in-person attendees.
- Several speakers arrive with buzz from festival titles including "Elsinore," "Wild Horse Nine," and "Ink."
Who is headlining the BFI London Film Festival screen talks?
The roster spans actors, directors and filmmakers with major awards pedigrees. Andrew Scott ("All of Us Strangers," "Ripley") and Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet," "Wicked") lead a list that also includes Jesse Eisenberg ("The Social Network," "A Real Pain"), Sofia Coppola ("The Virgin Suicides," "Marie Antoinette"), and Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting," "Slumdog Millionaire").
Additional names include Ava DuVernay ("Selma," "13th"), Brad Bird ("The Iron Giant," "The Incredibles"), James Gray ("We Own the Night," "Ad Astra"), John Malkovich ("Places in the Heart," "In the Line of Fire"), Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight," "Green Book"), and Naomi Ackie ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "Blink Twice").
Why do these talks matter for awards season?
Variety notes that several participants are already surfacing on early awards contender lists. Scott is drawing praise for his leading role as Ian Charleson in "Elsinore," which opens the festival. John Malkovich is generating buzz for his turn as an aging CIA agent in "Wild Horse Nine."
Boyle directs Venice opener "Ink," while Eisenberg plans his return to London after "A Real Pain" to close the LFF with "The Debut," his latest directorial project. The festival has also unveiled an industry program featuring talks with producers Pippa Harris ("Hamnet," "1917") and James Wilson ("The Zone of Interest," "The Voice of Hind Rajab"), alongside its main competition. The full film lineup is expected to be announced shortly, according to Variety.
Where can you watch the London Film Festival talks?
All but one of the screen talks will be held at London's BFI Southbank. Boyle's session marks a first for the festival outside the capital, taking place at Home in Manchester.
For audiences who cannot attend in person, the talks will also be available on BFI Player and BFI YouTube, giving global viewers access to conversations with some of the year's most talked-about filmmakers and performers.
When does the 70th BFI London Film Festival run?
The festival runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 18. With opening night led by "Elsinore" and closing night featuring Eisenberg's "The Debut," the 2026 edition positions itself as a bookend celebration of acting and directing talent at the heart of the fall film calendar.