The British Film Institute has announced the complete program for the 57th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express®, 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.
As Amanda Nevill, Chief Executive, BFI remarked in the Festival Introduction Letter on the BFI London Film Festival 
website, “The BFI London Film Festival is a brilliant achievement – and I think it’s okay for me to say that! Every year, without fail, I get a sense of excitement and anticipation that is heightened the minute I finally get to see the programme laid out in its entirety. Our Festival team has scoured the globe to set it before us. It is the BFI doing what it does best – completing the perfect circle from taking that initial act of confidence to invest in a film as yet unformed, to believing in the vision of filmmakers and writers, both established or as yet untried; igniting the imagination and minds of audiences with one of the richest and most imaginative cultural programmes in the world. We give film a powerful expression. The BFI London Film Festival celebrates new voices, new stories and new ideas and brings them not only to audiences across London, but increasingly UK-wide over a range of platforms. There are films that will dazzle, entertain, educate and astound; we have filmmakers who have picked up a camera for the first time, and established auteurs with more magic to unveil. It really is brilliant and it’s all for you.”
Stewart also took the opportunity to celebrate the life of her predecessor, who recently passed away: “On a more sombre note, I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, the ground-breaking Sheila Whitaker who was LFF’s Festival Director from 1987 to 1996, as well as head of programming for the National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank) from 1984. Sheila, who remained an exemplary friend to our programming team, sadly passed away this August. All at the LFF acknowledge her legacy, and proudly carry it forward. It is timely that, during this year’s Festival, we will launch a new BFI Southbank strand – Discover Arab Cinema – and Sheila, whose speciality was in this field, had a guiding hand in establishing this important new programme.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 04: CEO of the BFI Amanda Nevill and BFI Head of Cinema and Festivals Clare Stewart attend a photocall for the 57th BFI London Film Festival Press Launch at Odeon Leicester Square on September 4, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 04: Director Paul Greengrass attends the 57th BFI London Film Festival Press Launch Photocall at Odeon Leicester Square on September 4, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
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; and local cinemas – Ritzy Brixton, Hackney Picturehouse, Renoir, 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.
BFI PLAYER
The BFI London Film Festival experience can be enjoyed UK- wide with the upcoming launch of the BFI Player, the BFI’s new web VOD service, featuring a Festival digital channel showing regular red carpet action and film maker interviews. BFI London Film Festival content will be a key attraction in the first range of services on the BFI Player and will also be available on the recently launched BFI Samsung smart TV app.
Tom Hanks stars in Columbia Pictures’ “Captain Phillips,” a high-stakes thriller based on true story of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates
L-r, Barkhad Abdi, Tom Hanks and Faysal Ahmed star in Columbia Pictures’ “Captain Phillips”, a high-stakes thriller based on true story of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates
GALAS: OPENING & CLOSING NIGHT GALAS
The Festival opens with the European Premiere of Paul Greengrass’ CAPTAIN PHILLIPS a high-stakes thriller based on true story of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates with Tom Hanks playing the eponymous lead role
The European Premiere of Disney’s SAVING MR. BANKS will close the festival, the film which tells the untold story of how Mary Poppins was brought to the big screen stars Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. Continuing the initiative from last year the Closing Night red carpet event and screening will be screened simultaneously to cinemas across the UK.
Stephen Frears’ PHILOMENA, the true story of one woman’s search for her lost son, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan
Stephen Frears’ PHILOMENA, the true story of one woman’s search for her lost son, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan
SPONSOR GALAS
Among the other highly anticipated Galas are the previously announced American Express Gala of Stephen Frears’ PHILOMENA, the true story of one woman’s search for her lost son, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. The Accenture Gala is the European Premiere of Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt. The American Airlines Gala is Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi thriller GRAVITY starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
The American Airlines Gala is Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi thriller GRAVITY starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
The American Airlines Gala is Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi thriller GRAVITY starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
The Centrepiece Gala supported by the Mayor of London is the Coen Brothers’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake which is set in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960’s, the film took home the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival earlier in the year.
(Left to right) Kate Winslet as Adele, Josh Brolin as Frank and Gattlin Griffith as Henry in LABOR DAY directed by Jason Reitman to be released by Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush.
The May Fair Hotel Gala is the European Premiere of Jason Reitman’s literary adaptation LABOR DAY starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. The Festival Gala is the European Premiere of Ralph Fiennes’ second directorial feature THE INVISIBLE WOMAN staring Fiennes as Charles Dickens, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Hollander.
The Dare Gala, Alain Guiraudie’s STRANGER BY THE LAKE
The Festival Gala is the European Premiere of Ralph Fiennes’ second directorial feature THE INVISIBLE WOMAN staring Fiennes as Charles Dickens, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Hollander.
The Festival Gala is the European Premiere of Ralph Fiennes’ second directorial feature THE INVISIBLE WOMAN staring Fiennes as Charles Dickens, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Hollander.
STRAND GALAS
The nine focused categories programme strands (see below for more details) are each headlined with a gala, they are:
The Love Gala, Abdellatif Kechiche’s BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR;
The Debate Gala, Kelly Reichardt’s NIGHT MOVES;
The Dare Gala, Alain Guiraudie’s STRANGER BY THE LAKE;
The Laugh Gala: Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s DON JON
The Laugh Gala: Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s DON JON;
The Love Gala is the UK Premiere of Abdellatif Kechiche’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, who were awarded the coveted prize jointly with their director.
The Love Gala is the UK Premiere of Abdellatif Kechiche’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, who were awarded the coveted prize jointly with their director.
The Laugh Gala, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s DON JON;
The Thrill Gala, Ivan Sen’s MYSTERY ROAD;
The Cult Gala, Jim Jarmusch’s ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE;
The Journey Gala, Alexander Payne’s road-trip NEBRASKA;
The Sonic Gala, Lukas Moodysson’s WE ARE THE BEST!; and
The Sonic Gala, Lukas Moodysson’s WE ARE THE BEST
The Family Gala is Juan José Campanella’s FOOSBALL 3D.
In addition to which the previously announced Archive Gala is the World Premiere of the BFI National Archive restoration of THE EPIC OF EVEREST.
FILM GUESTS
Key talent due to attend the Festival’s gala screenings include: Paul Greengrass, Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Barry Ackroyd, John Lee Hancock, Emma Thompson, Alison Owen, Stephen Frears, Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfonso Cuaron, David Heyman, Sandra Bullock, Joel & Ethan Coen, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Ralph Fiennes, Abdellatif Kechiche, Lea Seydoux, Adele Excharchopoulos, Alain Guiraudie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alexander Payne, Lukas Moodysson.
Additional talent attending for films in competition include: Catherine Breillat, Isabelle Huppert, Richard Ayoade, Yasmin Paige, Craig Roberts, Noah Taylor, Pawel Pawlikowski, Hirokazu Kore-Eda, Ahmad Abdalla, Clio Barnard, David Mackenzie, Jonathan Glazer, Jim Wilson, Jessica Oreck, Frederick Wiseman, Zachary Heinzerling, Mark Cousins, Nicolas Philibert, Greg Barker, Matt Wolf, Daniel Radcliffe, Michalis Konstantatos, Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza, Rob Brown and Vivian Qu. The Festival will announce its complete guest line-up in early October.
AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS
Following last year’s successful implementation of new competitive sections, The Best Film Award will again be handed out in Official Competition; the Sutherland Award in the First Feature Competition and the Grierson Award in Documentary Competition. Each section is open to international and British films.
OFFICIAL Competition
The sophomore Official Competition line-up, recognising inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking, includes the following:
Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant (Photo: Agatha Nitecka)
Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant (Photo: Agatha Nitecka)
Peter Landesman’s Parkland
Catherine Breillat’s Abuse of Weakness
- Catherine Breillat’s Abuse of Weakness
- Richard Ayoade’s The Double
- Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida
- Kore-Eda Hirokazu’s Like Father, Like Son
- Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox
- Jahmil X.T Qubeka’s Of Good Report
- Peter Landesman’s Parkland
- Ahmad Abdalla’s Rags & Tatters
- Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant
- David Mackenzie’s Starred Up
- Xavier Dolan’s Tom at the Farm
- John Curran’s Tracks
- Jonathan Glazer’s Under The Skin
First Feature Competition
Titles in consideration for the Sutherland Award in the First Feature Competition recognising an original and imaginative directorial debut are:
- Chika Anadu’s B for Boy
Chika Anadu’s B for Boy
John Krokidas’ Kill Your Darlings
Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza’s Salvo
- Daniel Patrick Carbone’s Hide Your Smiling Faces
- Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo
- John Krokidas’ Kill Your Darlings
- Alphan Eseli’s The Long Way Home
- Michalis Konstantatos’ Luton
- Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza’s Salvo
- Chloé Robichaud’s Sarah Prefers to Run
- Rob Brown’s Sixteen
- Vivian Qu’s Trap Street
- Fernando Franco’s Wounded
- Tom Shoval’s Youth
Documentary Competition
The Grierson Award in the Documentary Competition category recognises documentaries with integrity, originality, and social or cultural significance. This year the Festival is screening:
Jessica Oreck’s Aatsinki: The Story of Artic Cowboys
Alex Gibney’s The Armstrong Lie. Courtesy of Frank Levasseur
Nicolas Philibert’s La Maison de la Radio
Alex Gibney’s The Armstrong Lie. Courtesy of Frank Levasseur
Paul-Julien Robert’s My Fathers, My Mother and Me
- Jessica Oreck’s Aatsinki: The Story of Artic Cowboys
- Alex Gibney’s The Armstrong Lie
- Frederick Wiseman’s At Berkeley
- Zachary Heinzerling’s Cutie and the Boxer
- Mark Cousins’ Here Be Dragons
- Nicolas Philibert’s La Maison de la Radio
- Greg Barker’s Manhunt
- Rithy Panh’s The Missing Picture
- Paul-Julien Robert’s My Fathers, My Mother and Me
- Vitaly Mansky’s Pipeline
- Matt Wolf’s Teenage (A personal favorite of mine from the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival)
- Kitty Green’s Ukraine is Not a Brothel
Best British Newcomer
Closing the Awards section is the prize for Best British Newcomer which highlights new British talent and is presented to an emerging writer, actor, producer or director. This year’s nominees are:
- Conner Chapman – actor The Selfish Giant
- Shaun Thomas – actor The Selfish Giant
- Destiny Ekaragha – director Gone Too Far!
Rob Brown – director Sixteen
Rob Brown – director Sixteen
- Rob Brown – director Sixteen
- Jack Fishburn & Muireann Price – producers Love Me Till Monday
- Jonathan Asser – screenwriter Starred Up
STRANDS / PATHWAYS
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.
LOVE
Indestructible or just plain destructive, LOVE in all its guises brings both hope and despair. The Love Gala is the UK Premiere of Abdellatif Kechiche’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, who were awarded the coveted prize jointly with their director.
Anne Fontaine’s ADORE starring Naomi Watts and Robin Wright based on the Doris Lessing novella and adapted by Christopher Hampton
Its All So Quiet by Nanouk Leopold
Floating Skyscrapers
Floating Skyscrapers
Other titles in this section include: Anne Fontaine’s ADORE starring Naomi Watts and Robin Wright based on the Doris Lessing novella and adapted by Christopher Hampton; James Ponsoldt’s THE SPECTACULAR NOW starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley; Sebastián Lelio’s GLORIA for which Paulina Garcia won the Silver Bear Best Actress award at Berlin; Rebecca Zlotowski’s GRAND CENTRAL starring Léa Seydoux and Tahar Rahim; Asghar Farhadi’s THE PAST for which actress Bérénice Bejo won the Award for Best Actress at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival; and CHILD’S POSE for which Călin Peter Netzer won the Golden Bear at Berlin.
DEBATE
DEBATE presents vital cinematic dispatches about the pressing concerns of our time. This year’s Debate Gala is Kelly Reichhardt’s NIGHT MOVES which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard as radical environmental activists whose act of eco-terror plunges them into a moral maelstrom.
Andrzej Wajda’s biopic of dockworker, Solidarity founder, and eventual Polish president WAŁĘSA. MAN OF HOPE
Andrzej Wajda’s biopic of dockworker, Solidarity founder, and eventual Polish president WAŁĘSA. MAN OF HOPE
Jafar Panahi and Kambozia Partovi’s CLOSED CURTAIN which was shot in secret at Panahi’s seafront residence.
Other highlights in this section include Nicholas Wrathall’s documentary GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA (a well-received film at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival); Andrzej Wajda’s biopic of dockworker, Solidarity founder, and eventual Polish president WAŁĘSA. MAN OF HOPE; Jafar Panahi and Kambozia Partovi’s CLOSED CURTAIN which was shot in secret at Panahi’s seafront residence; Mohammad Rasoulof’s MANUSCRIPTS DON’T BURN; Merzak Allouache’s THE ROOFTOPS; and LEAVE TO REMAIN directed by Bruce Goodison.
DARE
Just what are we capable of? From our potential for cruelty to our capacity for endurance, the films in DARE push the limits of comfort and go further. The Dare Gala is Alain Guiraudie’s STRANGER BY THE LAKE which won the Un Certain Regard Best Director prize in Cannes earlier this year.
Biyi Bandele’s HALF OF A YELLOW SUN, adapted from the novel and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.
Jia Zhangke’s A TOUCH OF SIN which won Best Screenplay at Cannes in the Official Selection In Competition.
Danis Tanovic’s AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AN IRON PICKER which won the Jury Grand Prix and the Silver Bear Best Actor award for Nazif Mujic’s performance in Berlin
Biyi Bandele’s HALF OF A YELLOW SUN, adapted from the novel and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.
Other highlights in this strand include: Jason Osder’s riveting documentary LET THE FIRE BURN which examines the 1985 stand-off between police and Philadelphia’s radical MOVE collective; Danis Tanovic’s AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AN IRON PICKER which won the Jury Grand Prix and the Silver Bear Best Actor award for Nazif Mujic’s performance in Berlin; Jia Zhangke’s A TOUCH OF SIN which won Best Screenplay at Cannes in the Official Selection In Competition; Biyi Bandele’s HALF OF A YELLOW SUN, adapted from the novel and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton; François Ozon’s JEUNE ET JOLIE; Diego Quemada-Diez’s THE GOLDEN DREAM whose ensemble cast won the A Certain Talent prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes; Joanna Hogg’s London-set third feature EXHIBITION (soon to be a highligthed film at the 2013 New York Film Fesival); and James Franco’s AS I LAY DYING adapted from William Faulkner’s 1930 novel.
LAUGH
‘Dying is easy, comedy is hard’ goes the old stand-up adage, but the filmmakers represented in the LAUGH selection seem intent on disproving this theory, adroitly tackling humour in all its guises. DON JON written, directed and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt has its UK Premiere as the Laugh Gala, the film also stars Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore.
DOLL & EM created by and starring Dolly Wells and Emily Mortimer
DOLL & EM created by and starring Dolly Wells and Emily Mortimer
writer-director Anthony Wilcox’s London-set debut feature HELLO CARTER starring Charlie Cox, Paul Schneider and Jodie Whittaker
Joe Swanberg’s DRINKING BUDDIES starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston
Other titles in this strand include Nicole Holofcener’s ENOUGH SAID starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette and the late James Gandolfini (now playing in theaters); Joe Swanberg’s DRINKING BUDDIES starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston; writer-director Anthony Wilcox’s London-set debut feature HELLO CARTER starring Charlie Cox, Paul Schneider and Jodie Whittaker; Andrew Bujalski’s 80’s set satire COMPUTER CHESS; and the six-part Sky Living TV preview DOLL & EM created by and starring Dolly Wells and Emily Mortimer.
THRILL
The films in THRILL are nerve shredders that take us to the very limits of who we are, who we could be and who we don’t want to be. The Gala presentation for this section is Ivan Sen’s gripping MYSTERY ROAD, a compelling slow burn thriller set in outback Australia against the realities of racial tension and economic inequality starring Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten.
Other highlights in this section include: J C Chandor’s Cannes hit ALL IS LOST starring Robert Redford; Andrew Worsdale’s award-winning DURBAN POISON; Hany Abu-Assad’s OMAR which won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes; Joachim Roenning and Espen Sandberg’s Oscar and Golden Globe nominated KON-TIKI; Amat Escalante’s HELI for which he won the Award for Best Director at Cannes; Paul Crowder’s history of Formula One motor racing 1; and NORTHWEST directed by Michael Noer set in the infamous Nordvest suburb of Copenhagen.
CULT
What is a cult film? A movie that exists outside the mainstream, that deliberately pushes boundaries, or inadvertently creates its own subculture? The Cult Gala is Jim Jarmusch’s ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE starring Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin and John Hurt.
Frank Pavich’s documentary JODOROWSKY’S DUNE which explores the Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s doomed attempt to adapt and film Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel in the mid 1970’s
Frank Pavich’s documentary JODOROWSKY’S DUNE which explores the Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s doomed attempt to adapt and film Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel in the mid 1970’s
Terry Gilliam’s THE ZERO THEOREM starring Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Thierry and David Thewlis
THE STRANGE COLOUR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS, Hélène Cattet’s & Bruno Forzani’s homage to giallo cinema
THE STRANGE COLOUR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS, Hélène Cattet’s & Bruno Forzani’s homage to giallo cinema
Other highlights in this section include: Frank Pavich’s documentary JODOROWSKY’S DUNE which explores the Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s doomed attempt to adapt and film Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel in the mid 1970’s; Terry Gilliam’s THE ZERO THEOREM starring Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Thierry and David Thewlis; Adam Wimpenny’s UK-set supernatural thriller BLACKWOOD starring Ed Stoppard, Sophia Myles and Russell Tovey; Ari Folman’s mind-bending follow up to ‘Waltz With Bashir’ THE CONGRESS, with Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, Paul Giamatti; and THE STRANGE COLOUR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS, Hélène Cattet’s & Bruno Forzani’s homage to giallo cinema.
Folman’s mind-bending follow up to ‘Waltz With Bashir’ THE CONGRESS, with Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, Paul Giamatti
JOURNEY
Road movies, personal quests, journeys of discovery and films that revel in the glory of the path itself, the potential for the films in JOURNEY to transport you is endless. Alexander Payne’s road-trip NEBRASKA, for which Bruce Dern took home the Award for Best Actor at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in the Official Selection In Competition, is the Journey Gala.
Xiaolu Guo’s mediation on the passages that have indelibly marked London’s East End LATE AT NIGHT: VOICES OF ORDINARY MADNESS
Cowboy
The Do-Gooders
Andrew Dosunmu’s Sundance award-winner MOTHER OF GEORGE
Andrew Dosunmu’s Sundance award-winner MOTHER OF GEORGE
Other titles in this strand include: Destin Daniel Cretton’s award-winning SHORT TERM 12 (a huge hit at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival) starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr and Kaitlyn Dever; Stephen Knight’s real-time thriller LOCKE starring Tom Hardy; Andrew Dosunmu’s Sundance award-winner MOTHER OF GEORGE; Xiaolu Guo’s mediation on the passages that have indelibly marked London’s East End LATE AT NIGHT: VOICES OF ORDINARY MADNESS; and India’s premier arthouse director Buddhadeb Dasgupta returns to the festival with SNIFFER.
SONIC
Walter Pater wrote that ‘All art inspires to the condition of music’, a maxim that resonates in the selection of films and events in SONIC. Lukas Moodysson’s punk rock teen movie WE ARE THE BEST! is the Sonic Gala.
Off the Beaten Track
and Morgan Neville’s TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM which shines a spotlight on the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century
and Morgan Neville’s TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM which shines a spotlight on the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century
09 Sep 1986 — Broadway composer Marvin Hamlisch sings with a group of young actresses during rehearsals for his musical “Smile”. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
Dori Bernstein’s affectionate documentary MARVIN HAMLISCH: THE WAY HE WAS which chronicles the work and life of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning composer
Other titles in the strand include: Doug Hamilton’s BROADWAY IDIOT which chronicles the creation of the Green Day musical American Idiot; Ryan White’s documentary GOOD OL’ FREDA the story of Freda Kelly, secretary to The Beatles; Dori Bernstein’s affectionate documentary MARVIN HAMLISCH: THE WAY HE WAS which chronicles the work and life of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning composer; MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS, about American rock-band The National, directed by the lead singer’s younger brother Tom Berninger; Sini Anderson’s THE PUNK SINGER which focuses on Kathleen Hanna, Bikini Kill frontwoman, feminist, and riot grrrl icon; Philippe Béziat’s BECOMING TRAVIATA; and Morgan Neville’s TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM which shines a spotlight on the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century.
SONIC EVENTS
The Festival is delighted to include two popular events from the year-round Sonic Cinema programme which celebrates the links between film and music. The celebrated British composer Michael Nyman will give a special performance at the BFI Southbank, playing solo piano from a selection of his film scores and providing accompaniment to some of the 70 films that he himself has shot; offering a unique experience of his visual and musical vision. The BFI also welcome the unique Angolan Kuduro act Buraka Som Sistema to London for a one-off live show at Village Underground. The performance will follow the UK premiere of João Pedro Moreira’s documentary OFF THE BEATEN TRACK which follows the Lisbon based band over a year long journey around the world.
FAMILY
The Festival showcases films for all ages in our FAMILY section, and this year’s Family Gala is FOOSBALL 3D, director Juan José Campanella’s first feature since his Oscar-winning The Secrets in Their Eyes. Other highlights are Alfredo Soderguit’s debut feature ANINA which centres on a young 10 year old girl who is teased about her palindromic name; Ask Hasselbalch’s debut feature ANTBOY based on the children’s book series; Roberta Durrant’s FELIX which won the Audience Award at the Durban International Film Festival; and SIDE BY SIDE, the debut feature of young Brit writer-director Arthur Landon.
Antboy
Oscar Ditz as Antboy/Pelle
Directed by Ask Hasselbalch
Nibus Film production
Photo Credit Rolf Konow
Antboy
Samuel Ting Graf as Wilhelm and Nicolas Bro as Loppen
Directed by Ask Hasselbalch
Nibus Film production
Photo Credit Rolf Konow
UpsideDown
Side by Side
SHORTS
An original and innovative line-up of short films and animation that will captivate audiences young and old make up this year’s SHORTS compilation programmes presented across the Festival strands. There is a dedicated section for younger audiences with animated shorts including HEDGEHOGS AND THE CITY, THE FOX WHO FOLLOWED THE SOUND, and two films with meatball protagonists.
The Love Will Conquer All programme examines an assortment of expressions of affection includes THE PHONE CALL will Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent. Shiny Happy Fits of Rage is for shorts which dare to ask questions about how we live today, such as OUR LAD in which a British Muslim solder returns from duty in Afghanistan, and in BEAT, a young man played by Ben Whishaw walks a thin line between euphoria and hopelessness. Laughter is the best medicine, or so we’re told, but at a price in The Best Medicine selection of eight short films. The Bizarre Ride programme offers thrills with adrenaline-fuelled adventure, including Maxine Peake in KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES as a husband’s criminal associates take his wife hostage, and a herd of giraffe perform acrobatic feats in an Olympic swimming pool in 5 METERS 80.
Freaks ‘n’ Geeks presents shorts that draw on cult genres and personalities from the religious to rock stars and relationships closer to home, including Jonathan Romney’s L’ASSENZA with Stephen Mangan. Everything Good is Happening Somewhere Else offers shorts about new experiences and journeying out of one’s comfort zone. Once again the London Calling section features a selection of shorts from budding filmmakers from across the capital, supported by Film London’s production schemes.
EXPERIMENTA
This year, the LFF showcase of Experimental Cinema and Artists’ Moving Image, is programmed in an exciting new partnership with LUX and is supported by Arts Council England. An extensive selection of new British work is presented including IT FOR OTHERS by Duncan Campbell, A SPELL TO WARD OFF THE DARKNESS by Ben Rivers and Ben Russell, and TAŞKAFA, STORIES OF THE STREET by Andrea Luka Zimmerman. International works include Shaina Anand’s From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf from India, and Gym Lumbera’s Anak Araw from the Philippines.
A SPELL TO WARD OFF THE DARKNESS by Ben Rivers
Shaina Anand’s From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf
Shaina Anand’s From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf
my Conversations on Film
Gym Lumbera’s Anak Araw
The colourful, sensual filmmaking scene of the 1980s is celebrated with restorations from the BFI National Archive; and Anthology Film Archives offer a sampler programme of an eclectic array of artists active in New York City from 1975-1990, preserved with the support from the Andy Warhol Foundation. These presentations sit alongside a tribute to the late Japanese moving-image artist Stom Sogo; Jodie Mack performing live to her animated rock opera Dusty Stacks of Mom; as well as screenings of Boris Lehman’s epic My Conversations on Film.
Many screenings include the opportunity to see filmmakers in conversation, and this year the Festival is pleased to include a series of professional workshops and talks exploring aspects of funding, production and sales as well as those working with film archives.
TREASURES
TREASURES brings recently restored cinematic riches from archives around the world to the Festival in London. This year, the films can be found throughout the programme sections. The previously announced Archive Gala is the World Premiere of the BFI National Archive restoration of THE EPIC OF EVEREST, the official film record of the legendary 1924 Everest expedition directed by Captain John Noel. The restoration was generously supported by The Eric Anker-Petersen Charity. Screening at the Odeon West End, the film will have a remarkable new score performed live by composer Simon Fisher Turner with a specially created musical ensemble featuring electronic music, found sounds, western and Nepalese instruments and vocals.
Epic of Everest
Epic of Everest
There will be a tantalising taste of the BFI’s forthcoming exploration of the dark heart of Gothic film with Jean Cocteu’s LA BELLE ET LA BÊTE (1946), the much loved Gothic fantasy digitally restored to 4K, Thorold Dickenson’s GASLIGHT (1940), digitally remastered by the BFI National Archive with the support of The Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation, and Joan Fontaine in her last big-screen appearance in the Hammer production THE WITCHES (1966).
The latest restorations by Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation to screen at the Festival is the wonderful Indian dance spectacular KALPANA (1948) and Lino Brocka’s once-unattainable Philippine masterpiece, MANILLA IN THE CLAWS OF LIGHT (1975).
Other highlights include Orson Wells THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947), Shirley Clarke’s groundbreaking documentary PORTRAIT OF JASON (1967) a revealing interview with African-American cabaret performer Jason Holliday, and Dirk Bogarde’s career-altering performance in VICTIM (1961) which influenced the changes to British laws on homosexuality.
EVENTS
The events programme includes the highly anticipated Screen Talks and Masterclasses, details of which will be announced closer to the Festival. In addition to the Sonic Events, for the first time, the Festival presents a public talk in partnership with Power to the Pixel in which acclaimed artist Stan Douglas will preview his soon-to-be-launched 3D augmented reality app and immersive storyworld CIRCA 1948, produced by the National Film Board of Canada.
INDUSTRY & EDUCATION
Highlights of the Industry programme are Think-Shoot-Distribute the Festival’s feature film talent development programme that will equip 25 selected talented filmmakers working in shorts, TV, digital media, games, arts or commercials with the skills, industry knowledge, connections, and career and project development support to make the leap from shorts and other forms of media to features. Also returning this year is the Film London Production Finance Market (PFM), held in association with the BFI London Film Festival, a two-day event that focuses on facilitating face-to-face meetings between producers and financiers from the international marketplace and the UK to encourage and foster new financing relationships. A full programme will be announced closer to the Festival. And The Cross-Media Forum 2013, in partnership with Power to the Pixel, which offers opportunities to network with over 400 experts from across the media industry, and includes The Conference: presentations of high-level think pieces and case study; and The Pixel Pitch: an event in which to discover the types of projects commissioners and distributors are eager to finance and support.
The Festival will also offer an exciting Education programme, sponsored by Sir John Cass’s Foundation, including films and events for schools, students and young people. This includes the Young Jury Project supported by the BFI Film Academy, panel discussions featuring a wide range of film industry professionals and a series of special events aimed at film students in higher education.
THE 57th BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL SPONSORS AND FUNDERS includes American Express back for their fourth year as Principal Sponsor, Department for Culture Media and Sport, the National Lottery, the office of the Mayor of London through Film London as a funding contributor (alongside Creative Skillset through Atlantic Film Group), Main Sponsor Accenture (who return to the Festival for a second year), TV5MONDE who return to the Festival for their 9th year, as well as Soho House, MNX, Green & Black’s Organic chocolate, CBS Outdoor, The Hospital Club, Impact Distribution Arts Council England** and American Airlines (the Festival’s long-standing Official Airline). Also returning this year is the Festival’s Official Hotel The May Fair. Returning Sponsors and Funders also includes Media Partner Evening Standard, Broadcast Partner BBC London, Media Partners Empire, Time Out, Sight & Sound, Variety, Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter, Little White Lies and LOVEFiLM for continuing to provide invaluable media support.
New supporters includes Heineken as the Official Lager of the Festival and Champagne de Bleuchamp as the Official Champagne; Premier and The Union, Sir John Cass’s Foundation as Principal Education Sponsor of the Festival, and the Arts Council England, who are supporting the Festival’s Experimenta strand.
Returning cinema partners this year are Odeon, Vue, Curzon, Picturehouses, Ciné Lumière, ICA, Rich Mix, Ritzy and Everyman Screen on the Green and new partners Cineworld. The Festival’s generous in-kind Sponsors includes returning Official Festival Car Supplier Renault; returning photography sponsor Getty Images; cinema advertising partner Digital Cinema Media; and Official Make Up brand MAC Cosmetics. The Festival would also like to give a huge thanks to Christie digital projectors, Doremi Lab, Unique Digital, Newman Displays and Molinare. Finally, the Festival would like to thank Adobe and the many embassies and cultural institutes who support the Festival by helping to bring in filmmakers to present their work.
**The Arts Council champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives and support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires them, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
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