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

The sixth edition of the BFI London Film Festival in Partnership with American Express Works-in-Progress Showcase will present eight new feature films and documentaries from UK-based filmmakers at Picturehouse Central on Saturday 11 October.

This selection of films in post-production offers an opportunity to discover fiction and documentary features from directors at their debut or second feature stage:

• A Hand Rises (fiction)
  Director/screenwriter – Louise Stern; producers – Helen Simmons, Manon Ardisson
• La Nuit (fiction)
  Director/screenwriter – Beatrice Gibson; producers – Scott O’Donnell, Denna Cartamkhoob, Valentina Novati
• Out There (fiction)
  Director/screenwriter – Simon Ryninks; producers – Tibo Travers, Katie Dolan
• Public House (fiction)
  Director/screenwriter – Martin Clark; producers – James Heath, Martin Clark
• Birds of War (documentary)
  Directors/screenwriters – Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak; Producers – Sonja Henrici, Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak
• Everything Is Fine (documentary)
  Director – Rich Felgate; producers – Rich Felgate, David Allen, Gaby Bastyra
• Hello Stranger (documentary)
  Director – Beryl Richards; producers – John Archer, Alex Usborne
• Re-Evaluation (documentary)
  Director – Toby Bull; producer – Kat Mansoor

The showcase event screens exclusive extracts from each project introduced by their filmmakers to an invited audience of international buyers, UK sales agents, and festival programmers, reflecting the increasing international reach of the festival. The showcase will be followed by a networking event with the filmmakers and invited industry guests. The online package will also be available online for one week from 11 October via a secure platform to a wider pool of invited international industry professionals.

The Works-in-Progress showcase is part of the festival’s commitment to supporting UK screen-based businesses and talent, and increasing opportunities for international collaboration. The showcase is a key part of the festival’s UK Talent Days, in partnership with the British Council, a weekend of events and activities designed to spotlight the diversity of UK talent and to foster international networking and business opportunities for filmmakers and companies supporting the films. 

The festival has doubled the attendance of international industry professional delegates over the last five years and will once again welcome world-leading figures who will share their experience and knowledge at the Industry Forum discussion events.

The Works-in-Progress showcase continues to support featured projects break into the market for domestic and international audiences. From last year’s showcase Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s Dreamers world premiered at Berlinale 2025 and will open in cinemas this December distributed by We Are Parable, Brian Durnin’s Spilt Milk world premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024, and went on to win the Audience Award at Glasgow Film Festival 2025 and the Discovery Award at Dublin Film Festival 2025, Ondine Viñao’s Two Neighbours screened at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025, and Liam Calvert’s A Night like This screened at BFI Flare 2025 and was distributed in September 2025 by Verve Pictures, who also acquired Richard Bracewell’s Chicken Town.

From the 2023 showcase, Jack King’s The Ceremony won the Sean Connery award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2024 and received two BIFA nominations, and Mark Warmington’s Harder than the Rock premiered at Sheffield Doc/Fest. From the 2022 showcase Adura Onashile’s Girl premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2023 and Luna Carmoon’s Hoard premiered at Venice International Film Festival 2023. Previous showcase titles that have enjoyed releases include Dionne Edwards’ Pretty Red Dress, Thomas Hardimann’s Medusa Deluxe, Malachi Smyth’s The Score, Stacey Gregg’s Here Before, and Ewen Spencer’s 8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime.

The in-person showcase will take place on Saturday 11 October as part of the festival’s UK Talent Days focus to support and promote UK screen-based businesses and talent. Presented in partnership with the British Council, the LFF will connect major international industry professionals with UK creative talent and emerging professionals from across the screen sectors to support the development of new UK films and create opportunities for investment and partnership. 

In addition, the annual Buyers and Sellers event returns as an in-person fixture offering a platform for international sales agents and UK distributors to meet, and NETWORK@LFF will welcome fifteen new UK-based writers, directors and producers to participate in masterclasses, screenings and events with leading industry professionals.