The BFI has announced its highly anticipated program for February and early March 2026, featuring a rich tapestry of international cinema, television counter-histories, and star-studded previews at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX.
Major Filmmaker Seasons
Leading the lineup is Andrzej Wajda: Portraits of History and Humanity, presented in partnership with the 24th Kinoteka Polish Film Festival. Celebrating the centenary of Wajda’s birth, the season spans six decades of his career, from the war trilogy (A Generation, Kanal, Ashes and Diamonds) to his final masterpiece, Afterimage (2016). Highlights include a Q&A with actor Daniel Olbrychski on March 11 and a gala screening of Agnieszka Holland’s Franz at BFI IMAX.
Action and artistry collide in Close to the Edge: The Films of Kathryn Bigelow. The season traces Bigelow’s evolution from genre-subverting cult hits like Near Dark and Point Break to her Oscar-winning realism in The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. Many titles will be presented on 35mm film, emphasizing the visceral, big-screen demand of her work.
A Televisual Counter-History
A groundbreaking season, Constructed, Told, Spoken: A Counter-History of Britain on TV, reappraises the legacy of multicultural programming units from the 1970s and 80s. Curated by Xavier Alexandre Pillai, the program explores how Afro-Caribbean and South Asian Britons used television to forge a hybrid identity through shows like Ebony, Eastern Eye, and Black on Black. Special events will feature discussions on Stuart Hall’s cultural impact and Black queer archival history.
Special Events and Previews
The World of Black Film Weekend: Ashley Clark introduces his new book with screenings of Malcolm X and Black Girl.
TV Previews: Sneak peeks of Bridgerton Season 4 and Lisa McGee’s new thriller How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, both featuring cast Q&As.
Doctor Who: A special screening of Warriors of the Deep with Peter Davison and Janet Fielding.
Cinema Made in Italy: The return of the popular festival showcasing the best contemporary Italian filmmaking from March 4–8.
From Lunar New Year celebrations with director Justin Lin to a "Creature Features" strand for just £9, the BFI’s spring program offers a comprehensive celebration of the moving image.
