Exciting Lineup Revealed for the 2025 BFI London Film Festival Official Competition
The upcoming BFI London Film Festival will feature several exciting films in competition this year. Among the selected features are "Bad Apples" starring Saoirse Ronan, "Hedda" directed by Nia DaCosta with Tessa Thompson, and "The Testament of Ann Lee" led by Amanda Seyfried. These films will compete for the festival's best film award, which will be announced on Oct. 19.
"Bad Apples" is a biting satire with a thriller twist, directed by Jonatan Etzler. The film follows a teacher dealing with a challenging 11-year-old student. "Hedda," adapted from Henrik Ibsen's play "Hedda Gabler," stars Tessa Thompson and will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before coming to LFF. Additionally, "The Testament of Ann Lee," directed by Mona Fastvold, features Amanda Seyfried as the founding leader of the Shakers religious sect in the 18th century.
Other notable films in competition include "Rose of Nevada," a time travel movie starring George Mackay and Callum Turner, and "Hair, Paper, Water…" by Nicolas Graux and Trương Minh Quý, which tells the story of an elderly Ruc woman. The lineup also includes works from filmmakers like Yemi Bamiro, Shahram Mokri, and Lucrecia Martel, offering a diverse range of storytelling from around the world.
The official competition at this year's BFI London Film Festival promises to showcase bold and innovative approaches to filmmaking. With a mix of fiction, documentary, and hybrid works from both established and emerging talents, the 2025 Official Competition is set to captivate audiences with its diverse selection of films. The festival will kick off with Rian Johnson's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" and run from Oct. 8-19.