The 70th BFI London Film Festival (7th-18th October) is excited to announce this year’s Closing Night Gala will be the UK premiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s THE DEBUT at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 18th October 2026. Eisenberg returns to LFF following the premiere of A REAL PAIN at the festival in 2024 and is expected to attend along with the cast. Lionsgate will release THE DEBUT for UK cinemas on 15th January 2027.
In THE DEBUT, a shy woman is unexpectedly cast in a local production of an original musical. Under the spell of the strong-willed and enigmatic director, she loses herself in the role and the high-stakes world of this community theatre production.
Director of THE DEBUT, Jesse Eisenberg, said: “I am both honored and honoured to be bringing The Debut to the 70th BFI London Film Festival. What a wonderful thrill to be the Closing Night gala, and I can’t wait to share the incredible performances by the cast with a London audience.”
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Writer / Director Jesse Eisenberg back to the LFF to close the 70th edition of the festival with his deliriously funny and heartfelt film, The Debut. With its knockout performances and brilliantly sharp script, we’re excited to share this film, which will have audiences in its thrall and renewed by the joyous and soulful power of cinema.”
The 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival will take place in the following venues:
- The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall returns as the gala venue
- BFI Southbank is the home of the competition programme, Screen Talks and LFF for Free events
- The UK’s biggest screen BFI IMAX will once again host LFF screenings
- Four partner cinemas in London’s West End include Curzon Soho, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End
- Ten festival venues across the UK include Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Chapter in Cardiff, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME in Manchester, MAC in Birmingham, Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and Watershed in Bristol
- Press and industry screenings and the LFF Industry Forum takes place at Picturehouse Central
In addition to UK-wide screenings at the Festival venues, audiences will also be able to explore LFF programmes past and present with a special collection of films on BFI Player.
The 70th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 7 October – Sunday 18 October 2026. The full festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 2 September 2026, with tickets on general sale from 17 September (BFI Members book early).
Lionsgate to Release THE DEBUT in UK Cinemas on 15th January 2027.