Tania Martins

This morning, the press launch for the 54th BFI London Film Festival took place in Leicester Square. 

As usual, Amanda Nevill,  the director of the BFI gave a thank you speech for all the sponsors, old and new, volunteers and benefactors of the festival. She also pointed out that, although the world is not in the best of financial situations, this year we will have a great selection of films demonstrating the importance of the continual of the survival of this industry in the world. 

Sandra Hebron, the Artistic Director of all BFI film festivals, stepped up right after to give her speech about the quality of films and the process of programming. She also, like Nevill, assured the audience (amongst which there were a few of the filmmaker's that will be screening at the festival) that although several government bodies have been suffering cuts, the Minister of Culture is planning to actually increase public film funding monies, whilst dissolving the UK Film Council. This raised a few questions as to how the government plans to distribute the money. 

The press launch was wrapped up by the screening of the festival's 30 minute trailer; containing scenes from the main films, those which will screen at the Opening and Closing Gala and will be premiering at the sponsored night screenings (American Express Gala, Centrepiece Gala, Windows 7 Gala, etc...)

For the Opening and Closing Gala, Mark Romanek's film "Never Let Me Go" (Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins) and Danny Boyle's "127 Hours" (James Franco, Clemence Poesy, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara) will be screening with some of the stars in attendance. 

American Express Gala - "The King's Speech" dir. Tom Hooper (Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter)

Centrepiece Gala (presented by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson) - "Another Year" dir. Mike Leigh (Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville, Oliver Maltman, Peter Wright) 

Windows 7 Gala - "The First Grader" dir. Justin Chadwick (Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo)

American Airlines Gala - "Conviction" dir. Tony Goldwyn (Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo)

Mofilm Gala - "The Kids Are All Right" dir. Lisa Cholodenko (Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson)

Jameson Gala - "Black Swan" dir. Darren Aronofsky (Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder)

May Fair Hotel Gala - "West is West" dir. Andy de Emmony (Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Lesley Nicol, Emil Marwa, Jimi Mistry)

Film on the Square Gala - "Biutiful" dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Eduard Fernandez)

                                     "Miral" dir. Julian Schnabel (Hiam Abbass, Freida Pinto, Yasmine Al Masri)

Sight & Sound Special Screening - "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" dir. Apichatpong  Weerasethakul (Thanapat Saisaymar, Jenjira Ponopas, Sakda Kaewbuadee, Natthakarin Aphaiwonk)

Time Out Special Screening - "Neds" dir. Peter Mullan (Conor McCarron, Joe Szula, Mhairi Anderson, Gary Milligan, John Joe Hay)

French Gala - " Of Gods and Men" dir. Xavier Beauvois (Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin)

Archive Gala - "The Great White Silence" dir. Herbert Ponting

Family Gala - "Africa United" dir. Debs Gardner-Paterson (Eriya Ndayambaje, Roger Nsengiyumva, Sanyu Joanita Kintu, Yves Dusenge, Sherrie Silver)