London Film Festival's free programme puts short films and makers in the spotlight

The BFI's newly announced free events include displaced filmmakers' shorts, talks, live discussion and family workshops from 7 to 18 October.

The BFI has revealed the free events running alongside October's 70th London Film Festival. Talks, workshops, live discussions and short-film screenings take place at BFI Southbank during the festival's 7–18 October run, offering ways into the programme without buying a regular screening ticket. The headline short-film

event centres the Displacement Film Fund, founded by Cate Blanchett and managed by the International Film Festival Rotterdam's Hubert Bals Fund. Its collection features work by Maryna Er Gorbach, Mo Harawe, Hasan Kattan, Mohammad Rasoulof and Shahrbanoo Sadat. The BFI announcement sets out each film's premise and the

filmmakers' participation. How to join in The broader free programme also includes a Girls on Film live podcast, talks with filmmakers and family workshops inspired by festival films. Booking opens at 10am on Thursday 1 October. The BFI says the events are free and open to all, subject to individual age restrictions; a

booking does not guarantee a seat because entry is first come, first served. That practical detail makes the official events page useful before travelling. The free strand is a genuine route to meet filmmakers and explore work from smaller creative teams, as well as a companion to the ticketed festival. Headline image:

BFI / Displacement Film Fund; official image supplied with the LFF for Free announcement.

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