If the quality I experienced at the 68th London Film Festival is anything to go by, cinephiles are in for a treat with a host of must-see films.

While doing my best to keep up with the latest streaming news, I have just spent the past two weeks (October 9-20) doing my best to attend as many screenings and premieres of new and upcoming films in the British capital as possible.

While I wasn't able to see everything - I had work to do - I was exposed to a wide variety of genres and styles, from serious and heartfelt romances to the goofy (“Rumor of a Woman”). Below are three films that are (in my opinion) absolutely not to be missed, as well as a complete list of the films I saw.

Jesse Eisenberg's “A Real Pain” was one of the biggest surprises of the festival. Writer-director Eisenberg and popular “Succession” director Kieran Culkin play Jewish cousins David and Benji Kaplan, respectively, in this comedy-drama, who are on an inheritance tour to Poland in memory of their late grandmother.

While it may not sound like a recipe for laughter, “Real Payne” is a genuinely hilarious ride, a delightful mix of sweet, brotherly moments and charming dialogue that will make you laugh. Culkin's powerful performance is particularly well-received, and we expect the film to garner attention at the film awards.

“Real Pain” opens in limited theaters on November 1

Rahmel Ross's “Nickel Boys” is a poignant piece of cinema to watch. Based on Colson Whitehead's 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Nickel Boys, the film transports us back in time to Jim Crow-era Florida of two black boys named Elwood (Ethan Haise) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), recount their experiences at an abusive and racist correctional school called Nickel Academy.

The film is especially immersive thanks to the fact that it is shot from the point of view of the characters. This decision literally invites us into the conversation, making all the emotions we will feel throughout more overwhelming. Combined with great performances and an interesting collage of documentary footage and classic film clips, “The Nickel Boys” is an exercise in empathy and a deeply moving piece of work.

“Nickel Boys” opens in December

“We Live in Time” is utterly mesmerizing. John Crowley's tender romantic drama confidently depicts the highs (and devastating lows) of the relationship between talented chef Almut (Florence Pugh) and cereal company rep Tobias (Andrew Garfield).

It is a melodramatic and tender look at the experience of falling in love, and all the emotions that feeling love can provoke. The success of this film is due to the superb on-screen chemistry between the two leads. Romance fans will find it hard not to get caught up in the story of these two. Bring tissues if you cry easily at the movies.

Some viewers may be put off by the way the timeline goes back and forth and the two stories are not told in order, but in my eyes, watching this story unfold is worth overcoming any problems with the structure.

“We Live in Time” is in theaters now

Look, nine films in two weeks may not sound like a lot, but LFF 2024 was two weeks that included a lot, including the second Prime Day 2024 sales period took place over a period of two weeks.

Despite this, I did my best to see as much as I could and have listed below everything I saw that was part of the program (a complete list is available on the BFI website). To be clear, this list is in alphabetical order.