The 70th BFI London Film Festival opens on Wednesday night at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, featuring 251 titles from 88 countries, rte.ie reported. While early festival attention centers on high-profile gala presentations and star-studded European premieres, the milestone edition showcases an extensive lineup of international cinema running through October 18.
Elsinore Opens The Southbank Centre Showcase
Andrew Scott stars as Scottish actor Ian Charleson in Elsinore, which holds its European premiere as the opening night film. Directed by Simon Stone and written by Stephen Beresford, the drama follows Charleson as he prepares to play Hamlet at Britain’s National Theatre while seriously ill with AIDS, knowing the physical strain would accelerate his illness, according to rte.ie. Scott stars alongside Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, and Luke Thompson. It has been reported that the role puts Scott in line to become the first out gay man to win the best actor Oscar. Scott participates in a festival Screen Talk on Thursday.
Barry Keoghan and Colin Farrell appear in festival films
Barry Keoghan stars in Kim Bartley’s Lemonade, which receives its UK premiere at the festival after debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival. The drama follows teenager Danny, played by Lewis Brophy, as he reconnects with a social worker who once tried to help him. Colin Farrell appears alongside campaigner Emma Fogarty in Rachel Fleit’s documentary The Slightest Touch, which charts their friendship and journey toward the 2024 Dublin Marathon, where Farrell pushed Fogarty in her wheelchair for the final four kilometres. Fogarty lives with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare genetic condition causing extreme skin fragility.
Kilkenny-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon is represented by Julián, the feature directorial debut of Louise Bagnall, following a young boy visiting Brooklyn who becomes captivated by the city’s Mermaid Parade. Documentary filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea brings All About the Money to London, focusing on Fergie Chambers, an heir to an American fortune who funds an anti-capitalist collective. Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor’s Ireland-UK documentary Act 3 competes for the festival’s Best Film Award alongside nine other contenders, reflecting on aging, family history, and the duo’s decades-long partnership.
Saoirse Ronan makes her directorial debut with the short film Paper Plane, written and directed by Ronan, which follows a defiant girl whose silent protest forces her mother to make a choice. Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy Wild Horse Nine features as a gala presentation, starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. Irish filmmaker Patrick Hough also competes for the festival’s Short Film Award with Landscapes of Shame.
Global Cinema Highlights At The Southbank Centre
Beyond the Irish contingent, several notable international entries are at the festival. French cinematographer turned director Marine Atlan presents La Gradiva, following a school trip to Pompeii. Clio Barnard directs a social realist drama set in Birmingham featuring a young cast coming to terms with life choices as they approach the end of their 20s. Boots Riley returns with I Love Boosters, a hyperactive romp about a bandit group of fashion influencers including Naomi Ackie and Taylour Paige, with Demi Moore playing a resentful fashionista.
Festival Schedule And Screening Details
- Dates: October 7 to October 18
- Opening Venue: Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, London
- Scale: 251 titles from 88 countries
Where and when the BFI London Film Festival occurs
Where does the BFI London Film Festival take place?
Screenings and events are held across London, with the opening night taking place at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
What is the duration of the 70th BFI London Film Festival?
The festival runs for 11 days, starting on Wednesday, October 7, and concluding on October 18.
How many films are featured in this year’s lineup?
The 70th edition showcases 251 titles hailing from 88 different countries.
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