Accreditation guidelines
- By applying for accreditation, you are confirming that you meet the eligibility to be accredited as an industry, press or BFI Film Academy delegate. The submission/registration and payment of an application does not guarantee accreditation.
- The BFI reserves the right, at any time, to withdraw your accreditation should you not provide enough evidence to confirm eligibility.
- By submitting your accreditation form and attending the festival you agree to abide by the BFI London Film Festival Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct.
Eligibility
- Industry accreditation is for individuals currently working in a professional capacity in the UK film industry or wider screen sectors.
- Press accreditation is for individuals currently reporting and/or reviewing in a professional capacity in the UK film industry or wider screen sectors. Previously accredited delegates must demonstrate evidence of past festival coverage; new applicants must submit proof of relevant work.
- BFI Film Academy accreditation is available to all 18 to 25-year-olds based in the UK and interested in pursuing and progressing a career in the film industry. Over 25s in full-time education and in possession of a valid student ID can also apply.
All applications will be reviewed by the Delegate Services Team within 48 hours.
Terms of accreditation
- Passes are unique to an individual and non-transferrable.
- Accredited passes give access to the venues, events and screenings associated with the relevant delegate pass. For the entire duration of the press and industry and public programme of the BFI London Film Festival, an accredited pass is mandatory in order for delegates to gain entry.
- Any person without a pass will be refused entry. Passes used by anyone other than the accredited delegate will have the accreditation cancelled without refund. Copying or imitation of accredited passes will result in cancellation without refund.
- Any company or person with any outstanding debt to the BFI London Film Festival will have their accreditation access denied until the debt has been paid.
- Any theft or loss of an accredited festival pass should be reported to the Delegate Services Team immediately. The issuing of a new pass will only be as a PDF file. The BFI London Film Festival reserves the right to refuse a replacement.
- BFI Film Academy delegates will only be issued a pass after providing proof of eligibility (proof of age, or of enrolment in a relevant course or centre of learning). Those applying for accreditation via validated institutions, with prior arrangement from the BFI, will be issued PDF passes after payment.
Cancellation and refunds
- From 25 September 2023, refunds and exchanges are not permitted.
- Prior to this date, accreditation may be refunded on request and within 14 days of purchase. Requests should be submitted to delegateservices@bfi.org.uk.
- If a delegate does not meet the applicable eligibility criteria, the BFI reserves the right to withdraw accreditation and issue a refund. Any refunds processed are subject to a £10 administration fee.
Festival access and embargo
- There is no guarantee that accredited delegates will obtain entry to any screenings or events during the entirety of the BFI London Film Festival. Entry is subject to availability.
- In line with the BFI’s Sustainability Pledge, your pass is digital and will be sent via email and available at your delegate account from 22 September. We encourage all delegates to use a PDF pass, however a printed pass can be obtained on request from the Delegate Services desk.
- The accredited festival pass (PDF or physical) must be shown for inspection at the cinema entrance or Delegate Services desk, and scanned to validate entry.
- Priority access at Press and Industry screenings is given to Press and Industry pass holders.
- Priority access at public screenings is given to public patrons and ticket holders. Access with a festival pass is strictly subject to availability, and at the discretion of festival staff.
- All delegates agree that they will not publish reviews of or any comments on films receiving their world premieres at the BFI London Film Festival until after the first official public festival screening — this applies to any form of review or comments, including brief impressions or quotes on social media (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.).
Copyright materials
Any person applying for accreditation grants the BFI the non-exclusive right and licence throughout the press and industry screenings and the festival to use any submitted materials, including the photos submitted within the accreditation process for the BFI London Film Festival badge and, if applicable, the delegate directory and any such uses shall not be in breach of any third party intellectual property rights. The BFI London Film Festival reserves the right to refuse accreditation which makes unauthorised use of copyrighted material at any point.
Data protection and publication of information
Personal data submitted during the application process will be stored securely and used only for the fulfilment of your accreditation. Data is retained solely for evaluation purposes and invitation to accredit at next year’s festival, except where you have specifically consented to other uses. Please find a link to the BFI Privacy Policy.
Information will be uploaded to Eventmaker and Cinando platforms in order to register to use these services.
We may publish partial information (as outlined below) in printed and electronic form to facilitate Delegate networking, as per your instructions.
Your name, company name and email address may be included in the BFI London Film Festival Delegates Directory, as per the consents outlined on your form. This list will be made available to delegates online via a password-protected personal delegate page. Your phone numbers, and postal address will not be published.
Your name, company name and your viewing information of Press & Industry screenings and digital library viewings may be shared with the film rights holders, as per the consent outlined on your form. This information will be made available to the film rights holder of the Press & Industry screening(s) you attend only. Your phone numbers, email addresses and postal address will not be shared.
BFI will not give or sell your information to third parties for marketing purposes.
A request to revoke consent may be submitted at any time by contacting the Industry Office. Please note that in order to receive access to films on the virtual press and industry platform you are required to give consent for your information to be shared with film rights holders as outlined in the form.
You have the right to access information held about you and can request to view such information by writing to the Festivals Office, BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XT or emailing delegateservices@bfi.org.uk.
Festival anti-piracy policy
Unauthorised streaming or recording is prohibited. Cameras are not permitted in venue screenings and recording sound, taking pictures or filming will result in immediate expulsion. You are not permitted to post or publish screenshots or photos of virtual screeners on social media or anywhere online.
Advanced security measures such as forensic and visible watermarking are in place to prevent and track piracy for online screenings, and if caught legal action will be pursued and delegate access will be permanently revoked.
If the BFI London Film Festival authorises any photographer or filmmaker to record during a screening or event, BFI London Film Festival attendees consent to the possible inclusion of their image and sound recording and permit use of these for publicity purposes without any claim to remuneration.
Code of conduct
Important policy information for festival delegates
We are committed to providing an environment that is as welcoming and accessible as possible, and inclusive for all festival guests and attendees, team members and volunteers.
The London Film Festival does not tolerate harassment or harmful behaviour in any form. The BFI are co-founders alongside BAFTA of the guidance and principles which seek to professionalise behaviour and conduct within the screen industries.
By attending the BFI London Film Festival you agree to abide by the BFI guidance and principles.
Harassment can include, but is not limited to:
- abusive comments and insults
- prejudice (for example, related to gender identity and expression, sexuality, age, race, religion, belief, disability, or socio-economic background)
- deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
- unwelcome touching or sexual attention
- invasions of private space and personal boundaries
- violence or aggression
- harassing photography or recording
- sustained disruption of talks or other events
- advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour
If behaviour falls short of our code of conduct
Anyone violating these policies will be asked to stop and are expected to comply immediately, and at the discretion of the organisers or any of their representatives may be expelled from the event (without refund), and be ineligible to attend any future screenings or in future years.
We encourage all attendees to be active bystanders. During the festival, if you are made to feel unsafe or unwelcome, notice someone else being harassed, or have any other concerns, you can tell a member of our staff, volunteer or security teams. They will help, or find someone who can. Every event will have a London Film Festival representative in attendance. Our team can be identified by their badges or t-shirts.
If you tell us about an incident, your immediate safety will be our first priority. We will listen from a position of belief, and keep what you say in confidence until and if agreed otherwise, and can recommend relevant support agencies and services.
If you prefer to get in touch in writing, please email delegateservices@bfi.org.uk.