BFI London Film Festival 2022

I've never been while in London, although a couple years ago I did manage to catch a few things at the Broadway Cinema when I lived in Nottingham, but I'd like to see quite a few in the line up this year. Is it quite tricky to get tickets? Any tips on the booking process?

Really depends on the venue, if you want to see quite a few things that may be popular I feel like the BFI Membership is worth having a look at, especially if you're looking at attending big gala nights like opening or closing.

A lot of the bigger movies are in the Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre which is a huge venue. You shouldn't have trouble getting tickets for the second showing - Usually the morning/afternoon after the gala night. Just be sure to be on the website the time tickets go on sale, September 13th at 10:00.

Anything else I can help with let me know!

So just to be clear, the gala films will have another showing the next day? Even Matilda and Knives Out 2 which open and close the festival?

Alright, thanks for all your help, I'll have to have a think about whether to fork out for a membership then.

That usually doesn't make a difference to them, 'Banshees of whatever' is out in cinemas the week before Bros and that's in the fest.  

Oh yeah most definitely, Edgar Wright showing up at the last showing of Last Night in Soho was a big surprise because it was his favourite theatre. Definitely won't happen for the majority of screenings after the first though.

I'm a member and managed to get every screening I wanted last year. I have high hopes for this years booking process as it seemed like they enabled an actual queueing system that seemed to work about an hour booking opened. 

I do agree with the Royal Festival Hall complaint. I've heard they've had a couple more premiere's in there since so I'm hoping they'll address the sound and make it better. I didn't actually sit on the balcony last year but will keep that in mind whilst booking tickets

I had a ticket for The French Dispatch in my basket, third or fourth row stalls but the whole thing crashed when I went to pay for it, when I contacted the BFI I ended up sitting halfway back on the balcony: I don’t know if their site is bombarded by boys every year but I’ve had similar problems every year.

I'd definitely sign up for the 25 and under account. 

Last year the "restricted seats" were £5 for 25 and under at every showing in RFH. so the first few rows, the back of these designated rows are a great bargain as they're not too bad, just a little more looking up. I've sat in row C and it wasn't awful (and I believe there was some in the balcony, but I was really not paying attention to those seats last year, if you are sitting there I hope you've got good eyesight... Or glasses) I'd imagine for most of the big premieres these will be few and far between, you'll definitely have more luck in the afternoon "day-after" showings.

The films you listed will have way more £5 seats spread across the RFH. I can't remember how many or how sparse they were, but I got a great bargain in this offer seeing King Richard. Row T to be exact.

Another thing to mention if you notice that a film isn't selling well at RFH they seem to sell more of these 25 and under seats in better seats. Keep an eye out for that, this'll probably be more likely in lesser known film premieres to fill seats or the earlier showings!

I believe the on-the-day tickets will be released online, I don't ever remember them being at midnight before, I might've just not noticed? It was pretty random and a case of checking the website constantly during the festival. For these I specifically remember even the opening film "The Harder They Fall" having these tickets available, I never saw them in any other venue other than RFH. I was so desperate to see something at the odeon luxe but those screens are so small they never popped up again. They have fixed this (hopefully) this year as they're making use of both screens for showings quite close together. 

Definitely worth also asking whilst you're around BFI as they may have some better tips and tricks for you, these are just some of my experiences and most were during the member only period.

With not having membership keep an eye out for emails about extra showings going on sale. These usually get announced a week or 2 after. I did the festival for the first time without membership and still got to see the movies I wanted to that year. This was even without having the massive Royal Festival Hall so you should be fine. Remember to also keep an eye on the movies that already say they're full, people are probably holding these tickets and may get released soon after. 2019 was very different though but I wish you all the best!

Good luck with the secret film, hope it’s something you like: only time I’ve gone to that it was Birdman, I was initially disappointed because I’d been hoping for Inherent Vice but with hindsight Birdman was/is a much better film.

Website is being particularly unfriendly

I tied to book a ticket for Matilda, managed to finally get a single seat only to be asked to pay £40 which I cannot justify