The Problem with Perfect Planning
You’ve seen the type. Maybe you are the type. Their festival schedule is a color-coded spreadsheet tracking galas, director Q&As, and must-see prize winners. Every screening is optimized, cross-referenced with early reviews and critical buzz. This approach
treats a film festival like a mission to be accomplished, a checklist to be completed. The goal becomes seeing the 'important' films, the ones everyone will be talking about. But in doing so, you risk missing the point. A festival isn't just a preview of awards season; it's a place for discovery. When you only follow the hype, you’re letting others dictate your experience. You’re watching their festival, not yours.
In Defense of the 'Vibe Check'
Now, consider the alternative: the vibe check. It’s an approach built on pure intuition. You’re scrolling through the program, a dizzying A-to-Z list of titles. You see a film from a country you know little about, a title that makes you laugh, or a single, arresting promotional still of an actor staring into the middle distance. You have no idea if it’s any good. There are no reviews yet. But something about it just feels right. That, right there, is the vibe. It’s an instinctive, personal connection to a piece of art before you even know what it is. Choosing this way is an act of faith. It’s prioritizing your own curiosity over the curated tastes of critics. The BFI programme is even organized into thematic strands like 'Laugh', 'Dare', and 'Cult', actively encouraging you to follow a feeling.
The Joy of the Happy Accident
The true magic of a festival lies in the unexpected. It’s the weird, wonderful, and sometimes baffling film you stumble into that becomes your favorite story from the weekend. Choosing by vibe creates space for these happy accidents. You might discover a first-time filmmaker whose work speaks directly to you. You might sit through an experimental feature that challenges everything you thought you knew about narrative. Or you might see a film that, frankly, is a total mess—and the story of how you and your friend ended up there becomes a fond memory in itself. These experiences are uniquely yours. They can’t be replicated by following a '10 Films to Watch' listicle, because they aren’t about the film’s objective quality; they’re about your personal journey of discovery.
Your Festival, Your Rules
The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs from October 7th to the 18th, and it is packed with world premieres and potential breakout hits. There will be red carpet galas for big-name features and Screen Talks with major stars. By all means, if you're dying to see Jesse Eisenberg's 'The Debut' or Simon Stone's 'Elsinore', you should absolutely try to get a ticket. But don’t let the marquee events overshadow the rest of the program. There are hundreds of other stories waiting in the wings, from documentaries to shorts to immersive experiences. Letting a vibe guide you through that vast selection isn't lazy; it’s an empowering way to engage with art on your own terms. You’re trusting your own taste and opening yourself up to the glorious randomness of it all.
