How to attend London Film Festival for free or £6: every BFI discount checked

The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs in London and around the UK from 7 to 18 October. Standard London screening and event tickets start at £10, but official BFI rules provide several ways to pay £6 or nothing at all.

Who can buy a £6 ticket?

Anyone aged 16 to 25 can open a free BFI 25 and Under account and buy available £6 tickets, including selected red-carpet premieres and Screen Talks. Numbers are limited, the discount cannot be applied after purchase, and each person may buy one discounted ticket.

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More £6 tickets are released at 1pm every Friday until 16 October. During the festival, BFI also advises checking the website after 10am each morning, when returned and newly available seats go on sale for that day's screenings.

Can benefit recipients get £6 tickets?

Yes. People receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance can buy £6 on-the-day tickets, subject to availability. You must first register in person at the BFI box office and bring two documents proving eligibility. Once registered, you can book the ticket online on the day.

What other concessions are available?

Concession tickets for many screenings cost £10 on weekdays before 5pm and £12 at weekends before noon. They are available to people aged 60 or over, students with valid ID, unwaged people, benefit recipients and disabled visitors. Family strand tickets are £10 for adults and £6 for children; relaxed screenings are always £6.

At BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, Curzon Soho, ICA, Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End, standard tickets are £13 for weekday matinees before 5pm and £18 for evenings or weekend screenings before noon. Gala premieres cost £21–£30, while opening and closing nights cost £40.

What can you attend for free?

LFF for Free includes talks, panel discussions, short film screenings, family workshops and DJ nights at BFI Southbank. Subjects include documentary, disability on screen, internet culture, podcasting, gaming and film criticism.

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You must book a place for free events. The limit is two tickets per person, but a ticket still does not guarantee entry: BFI over-allocates them to allow for no-shows. Arrive early because admission is first come, first served.

What if a screening is sold out?

For BFI Southbank and Royal Festival Hall, join the standby queue at BFI Southbank 30 minutes before the screening; released tickets become available about 15 minutes before it starts. At other London venues, BFI recommends trying the standby queue 15 minutes before the advertised time.

Money-saving tip: check online after 10am first, then try the official standby queue. This is safer than paying a reseller. BFI bans resale at more than 20% above face value and may cancel the original ticket.

Can you get a refund?

No. Festival rules state that there are no exchanges or refunds for any customer. Check the date, venue, age restriction and transport before paying. BFI's dedicated access booking line is 020 7960 2102.