Blue Velvet will screen during the David Lynch season (Credit: Courtesy of the BFI)
The BFI has announced its programme for January 2026, beginning with a David Lynch: The Dreamer retrospective.
BFI lead programmer Kimberley Sheehan and head of cinema programme Justin Johnson invite audiences to reflect and pay tribute to a unique visionary with this season at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, which includes his masterpieces, innovative short films, and a series of contextual events.
The season introduction on 7 January, The Cinematic Visions of David Lynch, with guests including writer Simran Hans and author Tom Huddleston, will consider the defining elements of Lynch’s idiosyncratic style and haunting sound design, alongside his work outside of cinema and his immense influence on artists and filmmakers.
Films screening at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 1 to 31 January will include Eraserhead (1977), The Elephant Man (1980), introduced by actor Dexter Fletcher on 27 January, Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990), Lost Highway (1997), The Straight Story (1999), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006), plus Jon Nguyen’s intimate documentary portrait of the filmmaker and his philosophy of leading a creative life, David Lynch: The Art Life (2016).
The BFI will also preview a new documentary, Welcome to Lynchland (Stéphane Ghez, 2025), on 3 January, which takes the viewer on a journey through the life and career of Lynch, weaving in perspectives from some of his closest collaborators including Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and Sabrina Sutherland.
Further special events will include the return of the Philosophical Screens series on 15 January, which will take a drive down Lynch’s Lost Highway, with Lucy Bolton, Ben Tyrer and Catherine Wheatley navigating the twists and turns of Lynch’s neo-noir nightmare.
Elsewhere, Ensemble: The Filmmakers from Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague will explore the work of the figures that populate Richard Linklater’s latest film, Nouvelle Vague (Richard Linklater, 2025), which opens at BFI Southbank with previews from 23 January.
The season, curated by the BFI’s Diana Cipriano and Sheehan, presents a range of significant films made by these individuals, offering a chance to explore one of the most exciting periods of film history.
Beyond the Frame: Women Filmmakers and Their Archives will spotlight Tina Gharavi and Gurinder Chadha’s work, which remains relevant for both current and future audiences.
The BFI will present a short season of films and events exploring the legacy of both filmmakers curated by the BFI’s Wendy Russell and Grace Johnston.
Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha will appear for an in-person event (Credit: Courtesy of the BFI)
The pair will stop by BFI Southbank to discuss their filmographies and archive collections with the special events In Frame: Tina Gharavi on 23 January and In Frame: Gurinder Chadha on 30 January, which will include selected highlights from their collections preserved and cared for by the Screencraft team at the BFI National Archive’s Conservation Centre.
Frederick Wiseman season will showcase the work of the great American documentary storyteller, and Magic Rays of Light: Early Television will dive into the early years of the medium.
Special events taking place in January will include a TV preview of Lord of the Flies (Marc Munden, 2025), including a Q&A with creators Jack Thorne, Marc Munden and Joel Wilson on 26 January, while a preview of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Owen Harris, 2026) on 16 January will also include a Q&A with cast members Ira Parker, Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell.
Meanwhile, The Woman With a Movie Camera Summit returns on 24 January, when a Summit Pass will offer access to a full day packed with talks, Q&As and panel discussions with filmmakers, curators and creatives, as well as workshops and drop-in sessions.
Full information on the BFI’s January programme is available on its website.
