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| Author | Zoe Aresti |
The 61st BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express®, kicked off last night (Wednseday 4 October), with the Opening Night Gala and European Premiere of Andy Serkis’ directorial debut, Breathe.
The film, which stars Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, brings to life the inspiring true love story between Robin Cavendish (Garfield) and his wife Diana (Foy), an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disaster. Watch an exclusive report from last night's premiere below.
Over the next 12 jam-packed days the festival comprises of 242 feature programmes and 128 short films, with 67 countries represented across both short film and features.
Notable galas include Alexander Payne's sci-fi dramedy, Downsizing, which just premiered to rapturous reviews at the Venice Film Festival, Guillermo Del Toro's The Shape of Water, starring a reportedly Oscar worthy, Sally Hawkins, Yorgos Lanthimos' follow-up to The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which won Best Screenplay at Cannes, and an adaptation of Ian McEwen's On Chesil Beach, starring Saoirse Ronan.
Outside of the galas the programme is rich and varied, with notable films including thriller, Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson, which played in competition at Cannes, Jake Gyllenhaal in Stronger, Paddy Considine's second directing outing, Journeyman, and Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, starring Rebecca Hall and Luke Evans, which tells the story of the creation of one the iconic superhero.
The festival closes on Sunday, 15 October with Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The Oscar-winning British filmmaker’s third feature marks McDonagh’s second to appear at the festival following Seven Psychopaths in 2012. After months have passed, a mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder, when they fail to catch the culprit. Starring Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, the film is set to mark a powerful finale for the festival.
The 61st BFI London Film Festival schedule is filled with striking films, many of which will be front runners come awards season. There’s still a chance to book for some of the events. For full details on the programme please visit here.