London Breeze Film Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary this October with its most ambitious programme to date: world, UK and London premieres; industry workshops, panels and masterclasses; immersive VR/AR/XR experiences in partnership with the Royal College of Art; and screenings across London venues and online via Breeze Online.
Opening Gala – The Banjo Boys
The festival opens at Riverside Studios with a red carpet reception and the world premiere of The Banjo Boys, the debut feature by British Asian director Johan Nayar.
The film follows Malawian street musicians Yobu Maligwa and Yosefe Kalekeni, aka The Madalisto Band, whose homemade instruments and raw talent have taken them from the streets of Lilongwe to more than 200 stages worldwide — including Glastonbury 2025. They were recently heard live on Cerys Matthews’ BBC Radio 6 show. With their manager, British musician Neil Nayar, they’ve built a global following while staying rooted in their culture. Their story is one of resilience, ingenuity and the transformative power of music.
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Closing Gala – Love Offside
On 26 October, LBFF closes with Love Offside, the first feature from Jamaica’s trailblazing LAB Studios, a female-led production house creating universal stories from the Caribbean.
Directed by Dale S. Lewis (Incision), the romantic drama stars Judi Johnson (Once Upon a Time in the District), Mike Merrill (Straw) and Sundra Oakley (Washington Black, Bob Marley: One Love), who will also attend for a live Q+A. Against Jamaica’s striking landscapes, the story follows physical therapist Cami Hart as she risks her career to heal a rugby star — a journey of ambition, family expectation and unexpected love.
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Festival Highlights
Programme Reveal Event – 15 September, Riverside Studios: unveiling the full 2025 line-up, with a short festival retrospective, screenings of three award-winning shorts from last year, and details of the industry programme. Tickets £10 via Riverside Studios.
700+ submissions shaped this year’s themes of resistance, resilience, reimagination and community.
New Ambassadors – joining the roster for LBFF10:
Louisa Connolly-Burnham (actor, writer, director; Sister Wives)
Maeve Murphy (award-winning filmmaker; Silent Grace)
Alex Kayode-Kaye (BAFTA-nominated actor/director)
Sundra Oakley (actor/producer, Bob Marley: One Love)
They join existing ambassadors including Stanley Tucci, George Mackay, Will Poulter, Daniel Battsek and Vanessa Redgrave
Festival Voices
Madeleine Casey, Festival Coordinator:
“Our volunteer team has worked tirelessly over the past ten years to build a festival that champions emerging filmmakers, diverse voices and bold storytelling. This year’s themes (Resilience, Resistance, Remember, Reimagine, Community) reflect the times we live in, and the hope that film and creativity can reimagine our future.
Festival Founder & Executive Director, Sam Cullis:
“Our tenth edition is a true milestone. The new ambassadors reflect the diversity, ambition and creativity that drive the festival forward, amplifying underrepresented voices and shaping our next chapter.”
London Breeze Film Festival 2025, 22nd October – 26th October at Riverside Studios, Garden Cinema and online.
Programme Reveal, 15th September. Tickets: https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/london-breeze-film-festival-2025-programme-reveal-195271/
