The BFI London Film Festival 2026 lineup includes three distinct feature films that share the word 'concrete' in their titles.

The BFI London Film Festival (LFF) 2026 has unveiled a program featuring three films that share the word 'concrete' in their titles. Artistic director Kristy Matheson noted that the selection reflects a broader trend among filmmakers toward exploring elemental subjects. While the films vary significantly in tone and subject matter, their shared naming convention provided a recurring theme during the festival's programming meetings.

Documenting Nature and Industry

One of the featured films, directed by Jessica Johnson and Ryan Ermacora, is a 35mm documentary set in Canadian oyster farms. The film examines the intersection of labor, scientific inquiry, and the natural world, with cinematography by Jeremy Cox. The directors collaborated with scientists to address ocean acidification and the geological timescales of ecological change.

Portraying Bedouin Life

Director Asmahan Bkerat makes her feature debut with a multi-generational portrait of an Afro-Palestinian Bedouin family living in Jordan. The film explores themes of home and familial bonds while challenging perceptions of Bedouin life. Bkerat emphasizes that living in a tent does not equate to poverty, aiming to provide audiences with a perspective on a world rarely depicted in mainstream media.

John Wilson’s Exploration of Material

Filmmaker John Wilson, known for his HBO show 'How to With John Wilson', presents a documentary focused on the material of concrete itself. Wilson, who previously stated he found the subject 'unsexy' and overlooked, applies techniques learned from a Hallmark movie workshop to his exploration of New York and beyond. He noted that his interest lies in the material rather than the aesthetic austerity often associated with concrete.