London Film Festival 2016: Cannes may have more stars, but London's event is all about movies

This year's London Film Festival (LFF) is well underway, with film screenings, special talks and star-studded galas occupying cinemas all over the capital over the last few days. But despite celebrating its 60th anniversary, there's no denying that the UK event is one of the lesser-known of its kind.

Cannes Film Festival is seen as more prestigious as serious A-Listers descend upon its red carpets. Films that fare well and walk away with the Palme d'Or award often go on to acclaim at the Academy Awards the following year. But is it really worthy of being the only one the public take note of on the circuit?

LFF seems to make a point of being more accessible to the general public, offering up easily purchasable tickets to certain screenings and talks online, prior to the event. Even the posters directly address all cinema-lovers stating: "See the best new films first."

This high-level involvement with all film-lovers is arguably LFF's biggest difference from other worldwide festivals, as while Telluride, New York, Toronto and Venice do provide the public with access to tickets, Cannes describes itself as "an event reserved for film industry professionals" only.

LFF concentrates more on showcasing the best talents in the industry right now to the widest audience of film-lovers possible, than on critics or others like them. At the event, members of the public often take precedence over the media, with screenings taking place every day and evening, while the press have a separate viewing only during the day.

Similarly, galas – or basically, premieres – are held at the usual hotspots in Leicester Square, where fans can easily wait at the barriers and see and sometimes speak to their favourite actors.

This slightly more 'casual' feel is not to say that the festival doesn't have its own reputable competition, mind you. Films such as western thriller Brimstone, starring Guy Pearce and Dakota Fanning, drama Certain Women featuring Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams, Japanese animation Your Name, Moonlight with Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali, and Una starring Ben Mendelsohn and Rooney Mara, are all up against one another for the accolade of best film.

Previous winners of best film have included acclaimed titles such as We Need To Talk About Kevin and Rust And Bone.

The BFI also dishes out Fellowship awards during the event, with this year's title going to Steve McQueen, director of Shame and Oscar-winning film 12 Years A Slave. Other awards over the event include best documentary, best first feature and best short film.

So, if anything, London Film Festival is just like Toronto or Cannes (just with admittedly less glorious weather), but also goes above and beyond to make sure everyone can enjoy its special events. Its mantra is much more about inclusion than being about glitz and glam and these attitudes certainly tie in with what 2016's line-up of films in particular echoes.

Festival director Clare Stewart previously told the BBC that her aim when choosing films was to reflect a more modern-day society. The industry needs to be "mindful of audiences", she stated to the publication. "We have a very diverse audience and the stories we bring to the screen should be reflecting that audience."

The London Film Festival began on 5 October and runs until 16 October.