Curation Not Categories
Instead of sorting hundreds of films into rigid genres like 'Drama' or 'Comedy', the BFI London Film Festival (LFF) groups them into curated thematic pathways called Strands. These have evocative, mood-based
names like Love, Debate, Laugh, Dare, Thrill, Cult, and Journey. A single Strand might contain a documentary, a romantic comedy, and an intense drama, all connected by a shared emotional or intellectual thread. The idea isn't to tell you what a film is (a horror movie, a sci-fi flick) but what it will make you feel or think. This approach, introduced over a decade ago to make the festival more accessible, encourages audiences to discover films they might otherwise overlook based on a simple genre label.
A Human Touch in an Algorithmic Age
In a world dominated by streaming services that use algorithms to serve you more of what you already like, the Strand system is intentionally human. It’s a curatorial hand reaching out to guide you. LFF programmers watch thousands of films and find surprising connections between them, creating a more thoughtful journey for the festivalgoer. This reflects a desire to move beyond being perceived as a closed shop for hardcore cinephiles and to welcome new and broader audiences. The goal, as stated by the festival, is to encourage discovery. By asking 'What are you in the mood for?', the festival invites you to trust the expertise of its programmers and take a chance on something new, fostering a more adventurous viewing habit.
Reflecting the Complexity of Modern Film
Modern cinema often defies easy categorization. Is a film that’s funny, scary, and heartbreaking a comedy, a horror, or a drama? The Strand system acknowledges this complexity. Many of today’s most interesting filmmakers intentionally blur genre lines, and the LFF’s structure celebrates that. The 'Dare' strand, for example, is for films that are formally or thematically provocative, while 'Create' focuses on the artistic process. This allows the festival to program a huge diversity of work—including features, documentaries, shorts, television series, and even immersive XR projects—under a single, unified framework. It treats all forms of the moving image as part of the same cultural conversation, connected by ideas rather than separated by format.
Does It Actually Work?
For festival regulars and newcomers alike, the system provides a different kind of navigation. Instead of scanning for a favorite director or a familiar genre, an attendee can decide to spend a day exploring the 'Thrill' strand, experiencing a spectrum of tension from slow-burn suspense to high-octane action. This helps solve the paradox of choice that can overwhelm visitors at a festival screening over 200 films. By grouping a hotly anticipated gala premiere with a little-known international debut within the same 'Love' strand, the festival elevates all the films in the program and creates a more level playing field. It’s a bet that a good film is a good film, and that the best way to get people to see it is by connecting it to a universal human experience.
