Paul Mescal in 'Hamnet.' Courtesy of Focus Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment The BFI London Film Festival recorded its highest-ever attendance as 235,853 people headed to screenings and events in the British capital and across the U.K. during this year's edition, which ran Oct. 8-19. Occupancy at both free and paid-for in-person events at London venues increased to 94 percent, up from 92 percent last year, with 47 percent of tickets booked by first-time LFF attendees. The 69th edition kicked off with the European premiere of Rian Johnson's anticipated Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and went on to host a whopping 44 red carpets with the industry's hottest talent, including premieres for Jay Kelly, After The Hunt, Frankenstein, Die My Love, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Bugonia, Sentimental Value and 100 Nights of Hero. Related Stories Movies Anthony Hopkins, Charlotte Rampling to Play Charles and Emma Darwin in 'The Species' From 'The Other Boleyn Girl' Director Justin Chadwick Movies Spike Lee, Joan Chen Board Liz Rao's Short 'The Truck,' a Post-Roe Thriller, as EPs (Exclusive) Chloé Zhao's Hamnet, which focuses on William and Agnes Shakespeare as they grapple with contrasting experiences of grief in the wake of their son's death, has won the LFF audience award, it was confirmed on Thursday. Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley star in the historical drama based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel. Mescal told The Hollywood Reporter on the film's LFF carpet: "I loved the book so much. And [Telluride Film Fest] was one of those times where I shamelessly was putting myself in position for a film," he added about meeting Zhao. "I was like, 'I really think this would work,' and I'm very glad that Chloé agreed to." Justine Simons, deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said the numbers this year show why London is "one of the world's best celebrations of cinema." She added: "I am delighted that Chloé Zhao's adaptation of Hamnet, which was screened at the Mayor's Film Gala, has won the audience award for best feature film. The Mayor and I are proud to support our capital's film industry - a global success story - as we build a better London for everyone." Elsewhere, the winner of the audience award for best British discovery is Yemi Bamiro's documentary Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story. A tribute to the forgotten photographer, freedom fighter and activist, the doc brings his story to life with insights from friends and family as well as stars Gabrielle Union, Alicia Keys and Jesse Williams. Lucrecia Martel's Landmarks (Nuestra Tierra) won the best film award in the official competition and David Bingong's The Travelers (Les Voyageurs) took home the Grierson Award in the LFF documentary competition. One Woman One Bra, directed by Vincho Nchogu, won the Sutherland Award in the first feature competition. Coyotes, directed by Said Zagha, claimed the Short Film Award in the LFF short film competition. The festival featured a range of 252 titles (comprising features, shorts, series and immersive works) hailing from 79 countries this year, with 41 percent of works from female and non-binary filmmakers. All features and series screened to U.K. audiences for the first time, including 28 world premieres and 11 international premieres. More than 1000 international and U.K. filmmakers, XR artists and series creatives presented their work in person at the fest, while the industry forum welcomed over 3,400 delegates. Over 860 media were accredited to the LFF and attended press and industry screenings of 160 films. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Heat Vision Warners Making 'Gremlins 3' With Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus Returning Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 'Goodbye Sisters' Tells a Family Story in the Himalayas, With "a Magic Mushroom Worth More Than Gold" as a Side Character international Al LaFleur to Lead Kim Magnusson's Oscar Hopeful Short 'Fire Lily' (Exclusive) Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival K-Pop in Iran, Shakespeare in Brussels, Clowns and 'Ms. Santa': Offbeat Tallinn Fest Films Twilight Jennifer Lawrence Is "Nervous" Fans Think 'Die My Love' Is Katniss and Edward Fanfic Quentin Tarantino Maya Hawke Reignites Quentin Tarantino Foot Fetish Rumors Heat Vision Warners Making 'Gremlins 3' With Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus Returning Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 'Goodbye Sisters' Tells a Family Story in the Himalayas, With "a Magic Mushroom Worth More Than Gold" as a Side Character international Al LaFleur to Lead Kim Magnusson's Oscar Hopeful Short 'Fire Lily' (Exclusive) Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival K-Pop in Iran, Shakespeare in Brussels, Clowns and 'Ms. Santa': Offbeat Tallinn Fest Films Twilight Jennifer Lawrence Is "Nervous" Fans