BFI announces full line-up for the 57th annual London Film Festival

The programme for the 57th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express®, launched today with BFI’s Head of Cinemas and Festivals, Clare Stewart, returning for her second year with a rich and diverse programme of international films and events from both established and upcoming talent over a 12 day celebration of cinema.

The Festival will screen a total of 234 fiction and documentary features, including 22 World Premieres, 16 International Premieres, 29 European Premieres and 20 Archive films. There will also be screenings of 134 live action and animated shorts. A stellar line-up of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, master classes and other special events. The 57th BFI London Film Festival will run from 9-20 October 2013.

Taking place over 12 days, the Festival’s screenings are at venues across the capital, from the West End cinemas – Odeon West End, Vue West End, Odeon Leicester Square and a new addition this year the Cineworld Haymarket. Central London venues – BFI Southbank; the ICA, Curzon Mayfair, and Ciné Lumière. Local cinemas, venues include The Ritzy Brixton, The Hackney Picturehouse, The Renoir, The Everyman Screen on the Green and Rich Mix. Additional screenings and events will take place at the Curzon Chelsea, BFI London IMAX and Village Underground.

The Festival programme is again organised into focused categories that are clustered around the themes of Love, Debate, Dare, Laugh, Thrill, Cult, Journey, Sonic and Family, an approach designed to help festival goers find the films that mean the most to them and to open up entry points for new audiences.

A select list of galas follow below. The full festival programme can be found here.

Opening Night Gala Captain Phillips The riveting new film from British director Paul Greengrass is a taut, high-stakes thriller. A chronicle of captain Richard Phillips and his crew's encounter with Somali pirates.

Closing Night Gala Saving Mr. Banks The true story of Mary Poppins’ journey to the big screen is imaginatively brought to life, with terrific performances from an all-star cast.

American Express Gala Philomena Stephen Frears demonstrates his customary flair for extracting brilliant performances in this moving drama starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

Accenture Gala 12 Years a Slave Steve McQueen confirms his directorial prowess with this hugely important and beautifully cinematic account of slavery in pre-Civil War America.

American Airlines Gala Gravity A routine space mission turns into a fight for survival for Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in Alfonso Cuaron’s nerve-shredding thrill ride.

Laugh Gala Don Jon Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes his directorial debut with his sharp and funny tale of a young man addicted to pornography.