Features and reviews

Discover the latest from the BFI, the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image.

Reviews

Urchin: Harris Dickinson’s distinctive debut suggests an exciting career behind the camera lies ahead

The acclaimed actor makes imaginative choices with his first feature, an exploration of addiction and homelessness led by an outstanding performance from Frank Dillane.

By Philip Concannon

Urchin: Harris Dickinson’s distinctive debut suggests an exciting career behind the camera lies ahead

One per year

A great Hammer horror for every year (1957 to 1974)

By Kevin Lyons

A great Hammer horror for every year (1957 to 1974)

Object of the week

Object of the week: production design for the Hindi classic Pakeezah by British sketch artist Ivor Beddoes

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: production design for the Hindi classic Pakeezah by British sketch artist Ivor Beddoes

Features

30 years of Wipeout: the futuristic racing game that caught rave music’s slipstream

By Stuart Burnside

30 years of Wipeout: the futuristic racing game that caught rave music’s slipstream

News

Projects and talent announced for LFF Works-in-Progress Showcase

Festivals

Maspalomas: an older gay man gets his mojo back after a stroke in this familiar feel-good comedy

By Neil Young

Maspalomas: an older gay man gets his mojo back after a stroke in this familiar feel-good comedy

Then and now

80 years of Rome, Open City: tracking down Roberto Rossellini’s locations today

By Adam Scovell

80 years of Rome, Open City: tracking down Roberto Rossellini’s locations today

From the Sight and Sound archive

“It was dance as action rather than as aesthetics”: Stephen Daldry on Billy Elliot

By Edward Lawrenson

“It was dance as action rather than as aesthetics”: Stephen Daldry on Billy Elliot

News

Sight and Sound: the November 2025 issue

Reviews

Invention: low budget meta experiment captures the uncanniness of grief

By Dylan Huw

Invention: low budget meta experiment captures the uncanniness of grief

10 great

10 great films set in 1970s America

By Rory Doherty

10 great films set in 1970s America

Reviews

Ellis Park: a Warren Ellis documentary in synch with its generous subject

By Leigh Singer

Ellis Park: a Warren Ellis documentary in synch with its generous subject

Reviews

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey: passion takes a backseat in this earnest modern love story

By Ben Nicholson

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey: passion takes a backseat in this earnest modern love story

Festivals

The Wizard of the Kremlin: a westernised take on Putin’s rise to power

By Travis Jeppesen

The Wizard of the Kremlin: a westernised take on Putin’s rise to power

Interviews

Warren Ellis on his best soundtracks: “Quite often, looking at the image is the least important thing”

By Leigh Singer

Warren Ellis on his best soundtracks: “Quite often, looking at the image is the least important thing”

Rarities of British cinema

Knives out: remembering Murder in the Family, a forgotten drama from the golden age of detective fiction

By Josephine Botting

Knives out: remembering Murder in the Family, a forgotten drama from the golden age of detective fiction

News

Inside the Archive #43: filmmaking in Hertfordshire and Super Kevin unwrapped

By Paola Martucci and Jez Stewart

Inside the Archive #43: filmmaking in Hertfordshire and Super Kevin unwrapped

Reviews

One Battle After Another: There’s so much to relish in Paul Thomas Anderson’s political cat-and-mice caper

By Nick Bradshaw

One Battle After Another: There’s so much to relish in Paul Thomas Anderson’s political cat-and-mice caper

News

LFF For Free programme announced at the 69th BFI London Film Festival

Reviews

Brides: teen runaway movie tackles a dark subject with a fizzy teen spirit

By Kate Stables

Brides: teen runaway movie tackles a dark subject with a fizzy teen spirit

Object of the week

The unique teaser posters for Ealing’s post-war émigré drama Frieda

By Nathalie Morris

The unique teaser posters for Ealing’s post-war émigré drama Frieda

Interviews

Nadia Falls on Brides: “It’s about those ride-or-die best friends that you have as a teenager”

By Lou Thomas

Nadia Falls on Brides: “It’s about those ride-or-die best friends that you have as a teenager”

Features

70 years of ITV: the early days of the UK’s first commercial channel

By Lisa Kerrigan

70 years of ITV: the early days of the UK’s first commercial channel

Where to begin

Where to begin with Paul Thomas Anderson

By Brogan Morris

Where to begin with Paul Thomas Anderson

News

Speakers and events announced for this year’s LFF Industry Forum

Interviews

“There was a lot of naivety and youthful exuberance”: Usman Riaz on creating The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature

By Nick Bradshaw

“There was a lot of naivety and youthful exuberance”: Usman Riaz on creating The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature

Interviews

“I don’t want passive viewing”: how The Shadow Scholars goes inside the academic cheating industry

By Elhum Shakerifar

“I don’t want passive viewing”: how The Shadow Scholars goes inside the academic cheating industry

Interviews

Max Porter on Steve: “I want my kids to see this movie and say: “We understand Dad a bit now””

By Katie McCabe

Max Porter on Steve: “I want my kids to see this movie and say: “We understand Dad a bit now””

Interviews

“I have very little interest in the lighter side of storytelling”: Cillian Murphy on his new film, Steve, and his career so far

By Katie McCabe

“I have very little interest in the lighter side of storytelling”: Cillian Murphy on his new film, Steve, and his career so far

10 great

10 great German horror films

By Anton Bitel

10 great German horror films