London Bicycle Film Festival returns to the capital after one year break

The London Bicycle Film Festival (LBFF) is returning to the capital this autumn after a year's break, road.cc can reveal - however unlike previous years it won't be returning to the Barbican. 

Ahead of the full festival and in an effort to reconnect with London cyclists a series of free film screenings are being held every other Friday from tomorrow, 15 May, until August at Oakley in Residence, a new pop up shop in Exmouth Market, EC1. Films will be selected from the BFF archives, starting with Stars and Watercarriers, 15 May at 18.30,  in which Jorgen Leth followed the 1973 Giro d'Italia, and Eddie Merckx, with one camera. 

In two weeks' time, films from the Bicycle Film Festival screenings from around the world will be shown. Downstairs the London Bike Kitchen has its own popup, offering its usual intro to maintenance and wheel building courses.

Founded in New York and now celebrating its 15th year, the 11th in London, the Bicycle Film Festival is a global phenomenon and has been held in more 75 cities around the world.

This year's London instalment will host the premiere of a biographical feature film, the Commentator, by BFF founder Brendt Barbur on Danish filmmaker Jørgen Leth. Leth is perhaps most famous for his film A Sunday in Hell, a chronology of the 1976 Paris-Roubaix race.

Organisers say this year's LBFF will not be held at the Barbican centre as it was in previous years, and are currently exploring alternative venues.

LBFF spokesperson, Jacqui Shannon, said of the Commentator: "It's quite a big deal because there are quite a few big names involved. Albert Maysles, who gives out grants to young documentary makers, is supporting and working on it, and Jorgen Leth agreeing to be documented for the very first time. It's called the Commentator because Leth is the voice of cycling in Denmark."

"Brendt realised this will be the second year the film festival hasn't been here in London and he wanted to reconnect with the cycling community".

Barbur started the Bicycle Film Festival in 2001 when he was hit by a bus while cycling in New York. He used his settlement money to start the BFF, now a global phenomenon that has helped promote urban cycling culture around the world.

More information will be available in the coming weeks.