Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock Joining BFI London Film Festival Line Up

Steve McQueen‘s Mangrove as we know is set to open 64th BFI London Film Festival. The Director’s other film, Lovers Rock has been added to this year’s line up.

The film will screen on Sunday 18th October across two screenings at BFI Southbank.

The film is a n ode to the romantic reggae genre called “Lovers Rock” and to the young people who found freedom and love in its sound, Lovers Rock tells a fictional story of young love and music at a house party in 1980. Amarah-Jae St Aubyn makes her screen debut opposite the BAFTAs 2020 Rising Star Award recipient Micheal Ward (Blue Story). Shaniqua Okwok (Boys), Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education), Ellis George (Dr Who), Alexander James-Blake (Top Boy) and Kadeem Ramsay (Blue Story) also star, as well as Francis Lovehall and Daniel Francis-Swaby who make their screen debuts. The film was co-written by Courttia Newland and Steve McQueen.

Related: Steve McQueen’s Mangrove Opening 64th BFI London Film Festival

Alongside Mangrove ,Lovers Rock is one of five films from Small Axe; a drama anthology which comprises five original films created by Steve McQueen for BBC One (Amazon Prime in the U.S).

All Set between the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. Each film will tell a different story involving London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their own force of will, despite rampant racism and discrimination.

Mangrove will open the film festival on Wednesday 7th October and will play for free to audiences at BFI Southbank and in selected cinemas across the UK.

Related: ‘Social Justice’ Big Theme With 2020 BFI London Film Festival Line Up

Steve McQueen said: “I’m so happy to be screening LOVERS ROCK at the London Film Festival, to show it here where it belongs is a privilege. I hope this film will bring back memories of parties past and look to the future of parties to come”

“Steve McQueen’s LOVERS ROCK as a late addition? Swoon…this is exactly what we all need on the last day of the BFI London Film Festival: pure cinematic and musical balm” Said BFI London Film Festival Director, Tricia Tuttle.

The 64th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express is taking place from Wednesday 7th October until Sunday 18th October 2020. Tickets are now on sale for all films, full details found here.