Welcome to the 57th BFI London Film Festival 

It is a superlative year for cinema from around the world and we are delighted to be presenting so much of it in London this October. This is especially true for British filmmakers and creative talent working in front of, and behind the camera, both at home and abroad. For the first time since 2006, the BFI London Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala is a film from a British director: we are thrilled to welcome Paul Greengrass back to London to present the European Premiere of the extraordinary Captain Phillips. Emma Thompson graces our magical Closing Night Gala in the European Premiere of Saving Mr. Banks; our American Express Gala Philomena is the compelling new film from Stephen Frears; our Accenture Gala is 12 Years a Slave, the highly anticipated new film by Steve McQueen; our American Airlines Gala Gravity shows-off the stunning achievement in visual effects of London company Framestore; our Centrepiece Gala, supported by the Mayor of London, is the Coen brothers’ marvellous Inside Llewyn Davis, which features the acting talent of Carey Mulligan whilst Kate Winslet shines in our May Fair Hotel Gala Labor Day; our Festival Gala is the second, impressive directorial outing of Ralph Fiennes, The Invisible Woman; and, of course, our Archive Gala, highlighting the restoration work of the BFI Archive, is Captain John Noel’s majestic The Epic of Everest.

The Official Competition for Best Film, which recognises inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking, will premiere four new British works: Richard Ayoade’s The Double; Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, David Mackenzie’s Starred Up and Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin; while Rob Brown’s Sixteen premieres in First Feature Competition and Mark Cousins’ Here Be Dragons premieres in Documentary Competition. Throughout the programme, amongst the rich and diverse range of films on offer, there is a strong selection of returning British filmmakers, including Terry Gilliam and Joanna Hogg, as well as stand-out names to watch like Destiny Ekaragha.

These are just some of the British highlights in a programme that includes 235 feature films and 134 short films from 57 countries around the world. There is a host of cinematic accomplishments to relish this year and much to discover in Love, Debate, Dare, Laugh, Thrill, Cult, Journey, Sonic and Family. For the first time our Treasures and Short film programmes are incorporated into these sections and Experimenta changes form, marking the commencement of an exciting new partnership with Lux.

In addition to our extensive array of film screenings, the Festival also comes alive with industry activity from development and financing forums like Power to the Pixel and Production Finance Market, through the talent lab Think-Shoot-Distribute to the Buyers and Sellers screenings. We work with a range of Education partners to deliver a compelling programme of education screenings, talks and workshops, with more to be revealed in the lead-up to the Festival.

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.

The Festival is a glorious and expansive undertaking and I’d like to thank the Festival team for their dedicated hours of smarts and good cheer, and all our contributing BFI colleagues. Most importantly, especially in these challenging economic times, the many organisations and individuals who have contributed to the development of this year’s event – we are most grateful, and look forward to sharing 12 wonderful days of film with you.

Finally, I thank and congratulate the filmmakers selected for this year’s Festival for their creative tenacity and vision.

See you in the dark.

Clare Stewart
BFI Head of Cinemas and Festivals
Festival Director, BFI London Film Festival

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.

Amanda Nevill
Chief Executive, BFI

We’re delighted once again to be part of the Festival, which brings together a diverse programme of the very best in British and World cinema.

Colin Walsh
Managing Director UK and Ireland, American Express