London Bengali Film Festival unveils 2026 line‑up with 13 films across five days
The London Bengali Film Festival (LBFF) will return for its ninth edition from 22nd–26th April 2026, presenting thirteen films across three venues in London.
The festival, described as Europe’s largest platform dedicated to Bengali cinema, is built around the theme “Identity Through a New Lens”, highlighting films that explore belonging, gender, migration and South Asian identity.
According to the organisers, LBFF has received support from the BFI Film Audience Network with National Lottery funding through Film Hub London. The programme includes fiction, documentary, animation and short films from Bangladesh, India, the UK, the USA and Spain, along with industry conversations and community‑focused events. The festival aims to reach audiences often underrepresented in UK film culture, including working‑class British‑Bangladeshis, older women, LGBTQIA+ South Asians and young people.
The festival will open with the UK premiere of Pressure Cooker, directed by Raihan Rafi, described as “a gripping urban thriller exploring womanhood, survival, and the fractured identities of contemporary Dhaka.”
Other highlights include a Queer Shorts showcase titled ‘Chitrangada’, curated by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, featuring films such as ‘Jasmine that Blooms in Autumn and Crossing the Desert’. UK premieres include ‘Nirvana’ by Asif Islam, Pinjar (The Cage) by Rudrajit Roy, ‘Silence of the Womb’, ‘The Exile’, and ‘Utshob’ (Festival). The documentary ‘London Boys’ offers a portrait of second‑generation Bangladeshi men in East London.
A special event titled Sreemati will honour Kanan Devi, regarded as the first lady of Bengali cinema. It will feature screenings of ‘7th Cycle’, ‘What Will People Say?’, and the animated feature ‘Sultana’s Dream’, followed by a panel discussion on women shaping New Wave Bengali cinema.
The festival will close with the London premiere of ‘Devi Chowdhurani’, directed by Subhrajit Mitra, accompanied by an introduction and Q&A with the producers.
