Every year, we feel so lucky to put together the festival programme for London audiences. This year is full of anticipated films from acclaimed filmmakers alongside new and exciting voices to discover, showcasing a range of perspectives and innovative storytelling from across the globe.
Elsinore
Elsinore is a powerful, deeply moving true story of the actor Ian Charleson, who faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London. We are thrilled to open this year’s festival with this film at the Royal Festival Hall, just a stone’s throw from that very stage.
La Gradiva
A captivating drama which follows a group of French teenagers visiting Naples on a school trip to discover the ruins of Pompeii. Marine Atlan's impressive directorial debut vividly captures the spirit and the drama of youth, and revels in the intoxicating aura of an ancient metropolis.
Ana, En Passant
Fernanda Alves Salgado's gorgeous animation is a travelogue of memories, ancestral connections and the experiences that shape one's identity. We join her as she travels from Brazil to Paris to follow in her late grandmother’s footsteps – a journey that allows her to discover more about her family, her heritage and, ultimately, herself.
La Dérive
As well as the best new films cinema has to offer, we recommend you check out the brilliant restored films peppered throughout the programme. Paula Delso, a forgotten female filmmaker of the French New Wave, gradually fell into obscurity after the release of her 1962 debut. An essential contribution to cinema, La Dérive is now ready for rediscovery.
Look Back
Acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda returns to the festival with this tender coming-of-age story. Look Back follows two teenage girls who bond over their passion for manga and dream of becoming artists themselves. Koreeda's beautiful love letter to friendship and the creative process offers keen insight into the craft.
The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs from October 7–18. Tickets are on general sale from September 17.
This article originally appeared in the fifth issue of Broadsheet London's magazine.
