byNylah SalaminCulture & Lifestyleon 8th October, 2026
Film festivals have become meeting points for stories near and far, and over the next few weeks, the spotlight is on the BFI London Film Festival 2026.
Marking its 70th edition, the BFI London Film Festival is back this Autumn, showcasing a spectacular lineup of films from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
Running from October 7th to 18th in venues across the UK, the festival is bringing exciting stories with 251 films spanning 88 countries, highlighting new voices as well as established talent. The programme offers everything from political documentaries and experimental cinema to stories of displacement and sisterhood, and even an audacious heist.
This year, a strong selection of films are from MENA filmmakers, so here are my top picks that deserve a spot in your festival itinerary and where to watch them.
Concrete Land
Palestinian-Jordanian filmmaker Asmahan Bkerat turns her lens on the Najar Family, one of the last Afro-Palestinian Bedouin families living in makeshift tents on the outskirts of Amman, Jordan. As luxury villas and concrete developments creep into their land, the family face discrimination and the threat of eviction.
Eight years in the making and produced from more than 400 hours of footage, this intimate portrait captures heritage, belonging and land.
Thursday 8th October at 8:55 pm at the BFI Southbank
Saturday 10th October at 1:50 pm at the BFI Southbank
The Station
Set against the backdrop of wartime Yemen, director Sara Ishaq’s drama centres on Layal, who runs a women-only petrol station. But it is more than just a place to fuel up. It’s a space where women come together to chat, laugh and catch respite from the chaos of the outside world. When Layal’s younger brother faces military enlistment, she is forced into action to protect him, drawing her estranged sister into the picture and forcing old tensions to surface. Expect a mix of humour, sisterhood and suspense.
Thursday 8th October at 8:30 pm at the Curzon Soho Cinema
Thursday 8th October at 8:45 pm at the Curzon Soho Cinema
Saturday 10th October at 8:35 pm at the BFI Southbank
Revolutionaries Never Die
Palestinian filmmaker Mohanad Yaqubi responds to a message from the late Lebanese filmmaker Jocelyne Saab. This part-film-essay, part-cinematic-letter, uses the archive of Saab, including footage she shot across Palestine, Lebanon and Iran in the 1970s and 80s. It explores memories, political struggle and the ethics of documenting marginalised communities.
Saturday 10th October at 6:30 pm at the BFI Southbank
Monday 12th October at 8:45 pm at the ICA
Furies
Rami Kodeih’s gripping thriller is set during Lebanon’s economic collapse. Single mother Maro and her sister Dalia plot a raid on a bank to reclaim their own money, which they desperately need for a life-saving operation. What follows is a tense hair-raiser about finances, survival and the lengths we’ll go to protect the people we love.
Saturday 10th October at 8 pm at the Curzon Soho Cinema
Saturday 10th October at 8:15 pm at the Curzon Soho Cinema
Sunday 11th October at 1:30 pm at the BFI Southbank
The Friend’s House is Here
Filmed secretly on the streets of Tehran without the government’s permission and smuggled out of Iran, this drama takes us inside the underground creative scene. Dancer Pari and gallery curator Hana navigate surveillance whilst running the increasingly risky business of expressing themselves. Inspired by Abbas Kiarostami’s Where Is the Friend’s House?, this daring story, directed by Maryam Ataei and Hossein Keshavarz, highlights creative resistance and the communities that form around it.
Sunday 11th October at 12:30 pm at the Vue West End
Tuesday 13th October at 6:30 pm at the BFI Southbank
For the complete programme and ticket information, please visitBFI London Film Festival.
Nylah Salam
Nylah Salam is a multimedia journalist whose work explores culture, identity, faith and the lived experiences of diverse communities. She is also a broadcaster and presenter and can be found @nylah.says on Instagram.
