Capital Celluloid 2026 — Day 286: Wed Oct 14

Mouse (O'Sullivan/Thompson, 2026): Vue West End Epic 2, 8.30pm

70th LONDON FILM FESTIVAL (7th - 18th October 2026) DAY 8

With its date at the end of the year, London is a "festival of festivals", as the Telegraph film critic Robbie Collin put it in one of his previews, so the films shown have mostly been seen and commented on by critics who have watched the features at such high-profile festivals as Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin.

So I'm making it simple with one recommendation a day. I will be concentrating on the repertory choices but I've also read the reviews of the contemporary releases and talked to and listened to the trusted critics all year and I am as confident as I can be that this is the pick of the movies within the parameters I have set. Firstly, there's no point highlighting the major gala films - they will be sold out quickly. Secondly, there is little to be gained in paying the higher Festival ticket prices to see films that are out in Britain soon. I will be returning to the London Festival films worthy of seeing and set to be released in the coming months on this blog as and when they get a general release in London.

Here then (from October 7th to October 18th) are the films you are likely to be able to get tickets for and the movies you are unlikely to see in London very soon unless you go the Festival. Here is the LFF's main website for the general information you need. Don't worry if some of the recommended films are sold out as there are always some tickets on offer which go on sale 30 minutes before each screening. Here is the information you need to get those standby tickets.

This film is also screened at the prince Charles Cinema on October 16th. Details here.

Lifelong friends Callie and Minnie are like ying and yang: one loud and popular, the other shy and quiet. Abruptly forced out from her friend’s shadow, it’s finally time for Minnie to figure out who she is on her own terms. Kupferer and Okonedo’s performances drive this beautiful film that’s guaranteed to have audiences alternating between crying and laughing out loud.
Grace Barber-Plentie

Here (and above) is the trailer.