A hugely popular 62nd BFI London Film Festival draws to a close

The Festival’s overall percentage capacity attendance rose by 12%, with London and UK-wide audience attendance reaching 205,630.

22 October 2018

John C. Reilly attending the Closing Night gala screening of Stan & Ollie at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® closed last night with the world premiere screening of Jon S. Baird’s Stan & Ollie with the director in attendance along with members of the cast and crew including Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly.

Despite reduced capacity in London, due to cinema closures, overall per screen attendance rose by 12% to a paid average occupancy of 72%. Audience attendance for the 62nd edition reached 205,630 across London and UK wide (total includes public attendance of 149,969 in London, 36,120 UK-wide with an additional 17,173 in press and industry admissions, and 2,368 at education and industry events).

Audiences throughout the UK engaged with the festival through satellite screenings of the world premiere of Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old, Matteo Garrone’s Dogman and Mike Leigh’s Peterloo. The LFF Special Presentation of Peterloo also made history by being the first LFF premiere outside London, taking place at HOME, Manchester.

The 62nd edition welcomed over 900 international and British filmmakers to present their work from across the LFF programme at venues across the capital. The festival featured a diverse selection of 229 feature films and 159 short films from both established and emerging talent and hosted 21 world premieres, nine international premieres and 29 European premieres, also welcoming a stellar line up of cast and crew for many of the films.

The festival was widely applauded for its diversity and inclusion and celebrated a record-breaking number of female filmmakers with a special photo on the steps of BFI Southbank with more than 85 female film industry professionals joining Artistic Director Tricia Tuttle including directors Carol Morley, Georgia Parris, Harry Wootliff, Jessica Hynes, Nandita Das, Soudade Kaadan and Tinge Krishnan; actresses Rosamund Pike and Andrea Riseborough and industry professionals including producers Christine Vachon, Faye Ward, Liz Karlsen, BFI CEO Amanda Nevill and Briony Hanson, Director of Film at the British Council.

BFI Player logo

Stream new, cult and classic films

A free trial, then just £4.99/month or £49/year.

Try 14 days free

Other things to explore

news

SPOTLIGHT programme announced by BFI Film Audience Network to invest in culturally underserved communities

SPOTLIGHT programme announced by BFI Film Audience Network to invest in culturally underserved communities
news

6 emerging LGBTQIA+ creatives selected for BFI Flare x BAFTA professional development programme 2024

6 emerging LGBTQIA+ creatives selected for BFI Flare x BAFTA professional development programme 2024
news

Oscars 2024: the winners in full

Oscars 2024: the winners in full