On October 18, 2026, the BFI London Film Festival 2026 announced the winners of its official competitions, marking the conclusion of the festival's 70th anniversary edition in London.
The Best Film Award went to Imperium, directed by Sergei Loznitsa. The documentary reconstructs life in the Soviet Union during the early 1970s using archival footage captured by Italian filmmakers.
The Sutherland Award for Best First Feature was presented to 9 Temples to Heaven, directed by Sompot Chidgasornpongse, while Concrete Land, directed by Asmahan Bkerat, received the Grierson Award for Best Documentary.
The Short Film Award went to Aman, directed by Rahul Roye.
This year's competition juries included internationally recognized filmmakers, producers and industry professionals, with documentary director Sam Pollard leading the main competition jury.
Although the official competition winners have been announced, audience participation continues beyond the festival's closing weekend. Voting for the Audience Awards remains open until October 21, with additional winners to be revealed later.
The festival's anniversary edition demonstrates the continuing importance of major international film festivals as platforms for artistic discovery, industry recognition and cultural exchange.
Its combination of international premieres, competitive screenings, professional juries and audience-driven awards highlights how established cultural events can engage both industry professionals and the wider public.
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