The 61st BFI London Film Festival Launch ‘A Programme Of Diversity’
When it comes to running Film Festivals diversity is the name of the game to deliver a successful festival, especially an international film fest. Today The BFI launched The 61st BFI London Film Festival programme, featuring a diverse selection of 242 feature films from both established and emerging talent. This 12 day celebration of cinema illustrates the richness of international filmmaking, with films to delight and entertain audiences, and also films that probe and interrogate issues of significance. A Programme Of Diversity.
What will be significant is one-quarter of the movies part of this year’s festival are directed by female filmmakers. The rise talented female directors are slightly up from last year’s film festival which may disappoint some critic. However, compared to Venice Film Festival which kicked off yesterday the UK’s premiere film festival it’s the biggest ratio, Festival director Clare Stewart commented to BBC “Strong women is obviously still a key focus for us,”. Strong Women is also one of the festival newest Strands.
Until today we already knew the Festival is to open with the European Premiere of BREATHE, the directorial debut of Andy Serkis. Starring Andrew Garfield as adventurous and charismatic, Robin Cavendish, paralyzed by polio whilst in Africa and given just months to live. Martin McDonagh‘s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri will close the festival starring Frances McDormand who faces the town’s revered Police chief (Woody Harrelson) in a darkly comic tale. Also announced was Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s Battle Of The Sexes based on the famous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). This will be the movies European Premiere.
Other highlights include Yorgos Lanthimos The Killing Of A Sacred Deer starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman in an absurdist twisted horror tale. Alexander Payne’s (Nebraska) Downsizing starring Kristen Wiig & Matt Damon, which puts climate change, mobility and immigration under the microscope. Mayfair Hotel will be the venue for the European Premiere for Annette Benning‘s Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool. A movie based on the Gloria Grahame’s (The Big Heat, In A Lonely Place) affair with a younger man. Saul Dibb brings R C Sheriff’s classic play Journey’s End to the big screen with shattering potency, starring Sam Claflin.
Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here starring Joaquin Phoenix in one man’s battle with repression and abuse. A Movie that gained the actor plaudits at Cannes. Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying, a tribute, and sequel to Hal Ashby’s The Last Detail. Starring Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne. Guillermo del Toro’s pays homage to old 1950’s Sci-fi B Movies and Area 51 in new fantasy The Shape Of Water. Tangerine director Sean Baker‘s The Florida Project, about childhood innocence set against the backdrop of America’s failed economy. Todd Haynes Wonderstruck, Joachim Triers Thelma, Takashi Miike‘s Blade Of Immortal, Michel Hazanavicius’ Redoubtable, Sally Potter‘s The Party, John Cameron Mitchell’s cosmic ride How To Talk To Girls At Parties are some of the other notable movies.
The 61st BFI London Film Festival will take place between 4 – 15 October 2017. You can check out the full programme and pre-book/but tickets here. The public sale will commence 14th September (BFI Members 7th September).
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