Expanded

Beyond the menagerie of incredible films on show at this year’s London Film Festival is an immersive adventure centred on water. From BFI Southbank and IMAX to St Martin-in-the-Fields, there lies a series of installations, from virtual reality and games to a holistic physical experience.

Solwata is an incredibly touching journey guiding visitors through the Solomon Islands as they get to know the Saltwater people. Narrated by Mark Ruffalo, the piece is part documentary and part virtual recreation of the overwhelming feeling of losing one’s land and home. Jumping into its world, the viewer begins desolated, water surrounding them. At this point, the water remains on the ground, with ripples the guests can walk over and trigger memories. These memories are interviews with some of the locals, mainly Francis, Martha and Lawrence. As it goes on, the water level rises higher. What touches most about Solwata are these stories detailing how environmental catastrophes affect every aspect of their lives – from the individual to family and the community. The best takeaway is the gift at the end: glass-bottled necklaces filled with salt made by Martha’s children.

Also in the VR Lounge is The World Comes Flooding In, which traces memories of those affected by the Australian floods of 2022. It’s grittier compared to Solwata, plunging viewers into the darkness that overtook the victims, with pieces of memorabilia destroyed and scattered everywhere. It mainly focuses on three individuals – kilometres apart yet connected by this harrowing event – and how the water ripped through their homes, destroyed their belongings and effectively changed their lives. It’s touching in parts, and the voices of those affected really come through, specifically Marina and her efforts to restore her record collection. But it’s rather short, and the selection of stories isn’t diverse enough to fully convey the theme of different lives connected by this one tragedy.

Water Body at St Martin-in-the-Fields is a sensory experience. Guests are taken into a dark room and given shells filled with water. One can drink from this source or hold the shell as they venture through the process of reconnecting with the element. The sound of rippling waves and droplets surrounds everyone within the small room. It’s a relaxing endeavour throughout – a perfect time away from the glamorous lights of LFF and to be at peace. A screen begins to project bright blue veins, later revealed to be rivers running through the land, connecting to the sea. It’s a visual show of how water connects everyone. The simplicity of Water Body is its strongest point.

London Film Festival 2026: Expanded’s water-focused features are a curious sensation. There’s a throughline here regarding the power of water, its overwhelming vastness and how that can sometimes be a good or bad thing. The heart of it all, however, is its importance: being in touch with nature and water, learning to preserve and protect it. Although some of the pieces relay their particular message more strongly than others, the trip remains an eye-opening expedition.

Mae Trumata

Read more reviews from our London Film Festival 2026 coverage here.

For further information about the event, visit the London Film Festival website here.