BFI London Film Festival 2016
The 5th of October signalled the start of 12 days of appreciation for the art of filmmaking with the 60th edition of the London Film Festival (LFF), brought to us by the British Film Institute (BFI). As usual the LFF was a more egalitarian affair than its prestigious European counterparts (Cannes, Venice), with members of the British public along with VIPs and the assembled press getting the chance to see some 248 films from all corners of the globe, often many months before their general release.
But fear not, there was plenty of glitz and red-carpet glamour to be feasted upon with big stars treading the red carpets across London’s iconic Leicester square. You can see the full schedule of this year’s LFF and much more on the official BFI site @ http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff and all of our LFF reviews here, below is our breakdown of the big events this year.
Galas & Screenings
Week 1
Wednesday the 5th
A United Kingdom
Image Source: Getty Images
As female empowerment was last year, the issues of diversity and tolerance were the main theme in this year’s opening night gala, with director Amma Asante’s biographical drama ‘A United Kingdom’ officially opening the festival. The story of Prince and future first prime minister Seretse Khama of Botswana and his controversial interracial relationship with his white British wife Ruth Williams, an early 1940s love story which endured even through political fallout and ramifications across the British empire.
Asante was in attendance with leads David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, along with co-stars Jack Davenport, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Oyelowo, Tom Felton, Terry Pheto and Arnold Oceng. ‘A United Kingdom’ is out in UK cinemas on the 25th of November and on the 17th of February 2017 in the US, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
A United Kingdom full press conference (courtesy of HeyUGuys)
The Red Turtle
Image Source: Studio Ghibli
Opening day at the LFF also brought the animation star of this year’s festival ‘The Red Turtle’, a European co-production with Japan’s studio Ghibli. The dialogue-less magical story of a desperate island castaway who develops a rivalry with a mysterious giant red turtle, who may yet prove to be the key to his future.‘The Red Turtle’ is out in US cinemas on the 27th of January 2017, with no UK release yet, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
The Red Turtle director Q&A (courtesy of BFI)
Thursday the 6th
A Monster Calls
Image Source: Getty Images
A slew of multinational Thursday screenings culminated in the gala for ‘A Monster Calls’, director J.A. Bayona’s adaptation of the bestselling Patrick Ness fantasy/drama novel, about a British boy who copes with family heartache and growing pains through his relationship with a imposing tree Monster and the stories he tells.
Bayona was joined on the red carpet by stars Sigourney Weaver, Lewis MacDougall and producer Belén Atienza. ‘A Monster Calls’ is out in cinemas on the 6th of January 2017 in both the UK and US, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
A Monster Calls red carpet interviews (courtesy of PremiereScene)
Christine
Image Source: Great Point Media
Thursday also treated audiences to the Antonio Campos picture ‘Christine’, starring Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall and Tracy Letts; a biographical drama about the final days of reporter Christine Chubbuck, who committed suicide on live TV in 1974. ‘Christine’ is out on the 14th of October in the US, with no UK date yet, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
Heal the Living (Réparer les Vivants)
Image Source: Mars Films
“La France” also made an impact on Thursday in the form of Katell Quillévéré’s moving medical drama ‘Heal the Living’; the story of two different French families linked by tragedy and rebirth through organ transplantation. Director Quillévéré’s picture stars Tahar Rahim, Emmanuelle Seigner and Anne Dorval, and is out on the 2nd of November in France, with no UK date yet, check out our LFF spoiler-free review here.
Wild
Image Source: Heimatfilm
Deutschland also made its presence felt through Nicolette Krebitz’s provocative German drama ‘Wild’, starring Lilith Stangenberg and Georg Friedrich; the story of a young lady’s obsession with a Wolf which turns her life upside down and a begins a steady detachment from society.‘Wild’ is out Germany now with no UK date yet, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
Zoology (Zoologiya)
Image Source: Arizona Films
No to be outdone in the dark drama stakes, the Russians upped the surreal ante with writer/director Ivan I. Tverdovskiy’s ‘Zoology’; the story of a lonely demure Russian zookeeper whose life begins to change when she randomly grows a tail, starring Natalya Pavlenkova and Dmitriy Groshev, ‘Zoology’ has no current release dates, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
Ma’ Rosa
Image Source: Centerstage Productions
The International theme continued with a Filipino entry in this year’s festival ‘Ma’ Rosa’; a street crime and police corruption drama about a tough family matriarch whose life gets turned upside down when she gets busted for dealing ice, and gets extorted by dodgy detectives. ‘Ma’ Rosa’ is out now in the Phillipines with no UK date, check out our LFF review here.
Down Under
Image Source: Studio Canal
Not to be undone, the Aussies made their presence felt with a screening of dark absurdist satire ‘Down Under’, a clash-of-cultures and idiots comedy set in the aftermath of the 2005 Cronulla race riots. Directed by Abe Forsythe and starring Lincoln Younes, Rahel Romahn and Michael Denkha, ‘Down Under’ is out in Australia now with no UK date yet, check out our LFF spoiler-free review here.
King Cobra
Image Source: IFC Films
With a solid shot at Thursday’s prize for most provocative screening, Justin Kelly brought his darkly comic drama ‘King Cobra’ to the LFF; the story of a teenager’s rise to stardom in amateur gay porn and a relationship with a producer which lead to tragedy, based on a true story of exploitation and murder in the seedier side of an industry . Starring James Franco, Christian Slater and Garrett Clayton, ‘King Cobra’ is out in the US on the 21st of October with no UK date yet, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
Friday the 7th
La La Land
Image Source: Getty Images
The first Friday’s proceedings at the LFF this year culminated with a gala for the much anticipated and already well-received ‘La La Land’, with writer/director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash) taking his Jazz sensibilities to Tinseltown in a musical dramedy, starring Ryan Gosling as a jazz musician who falls for Emma Stone’s aspiring young actress in L.A. Chazelle was in attendance in Leicester square along with producers Jordan Horowitz and Fred Berger, ‘La La Land’ is out on the 16th of December in the US and the 13 of January 2017 in the UK.
La La Land red carpet interviews (courtesy of BFI)
American Honey
Image Source: Getty Images
Friday also brought a screening for Andrea Arnold’s misfit road drama and coming-of-age story ‘American Honey’; the tale of a poverty-stricken directionless teenage girl in the American heartland, who finds belonging and more with a rambunctious young team of magazine salespeople. Arnold was in attendance with star Sasha Lane plus producers Lars Knudsen and Julia Oh, ‘American Honey’ is out now in US and UK cinemas, you can see our spoiler-free review here.
Frantz
Image Source: Getty Images
François Ozon also brought his Franco-German drama ‘Frantz’ to Leicester Square on Friday; set after the destruction of World War I, where a grieving young German lady develops a relationship with a young Frenchman, who mysteriously lays flowers at the foot of her dead fiancé’s grave. Ozon was in attendance without stars Pierre Niney and Paula Beer, ‘Frantz’ has no UK or US release date yet, out now in France.
Saturday the 8th
Manchester by the Sea
Image Source: Getty Images
Saturday at the LFF culminated in the headline gala for ‘Manchester by the Sea’, one of the very best films at the festival; Kenneth Lonergan’s honest and touching drama, starring Casey Affleck as a humble New Englander broken by tragedy, and forced to confront his past when he’s called back to his hometown by a death in the family.
Director Lonergan walked the Leicester Square red carpet along with stars Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, ‘Manchester by the Sea’ is out on the 18th of November in the US and the 13 of January 2017 in the UK, you can see our LFF spoiler-free review here.
Manchester by the Sea red carpet interviews (courtesy of BFI)
Elle
Image Source: Getty Images
Paul Verhoeven also brought his latest film to the LFF on Saturday for a screening of French thriller ‘Elle’; starring Isabelle Huppert as a successful and uncompromising video-game company boss, who engages in a dangerous game with a mysterious stranger who assaults her at home. Director and star were both in attendance, ‘Elle’ is out on the 11th of November in the US and the 24th of February 2017 in the UK, out now in France.
Elle red carpet interviews (courtesy of HeyUGuys)
Graduation (Bacalaureat)
Image Source: Why Not Productions
Saturday also provided a screening of Romania’s entry to the LFF, Cristian Mungiu’s honest and captivating little family drama ‘Graduation’; the story of a respected doctor who compromises his ethics to ensure his teenage daughter’s future, only to painfully realise he can’t control everything. ‘Graduation’ is out on the 3rd of March 2017 in the UK and the 10th of February 2017 in the US.
The Untamed (La Región Salvaje)
Image Source: Le Pacte
Saturday threw up arguably the strangest film in at this year’s festival, in the form of Amat Escalante’s sexually charged and highly provocative drama ‘The Untamed’; following the bizarre fate of a group of disparate Mexicans and their life troubles, as a mysterious and fantastical external force causes them to embrace their base instincts and sexual desires. ‘The Untamed’ is out in Mexico now with no UK release date yet, you can see our spoiler-free LFF review here.
Sunday the 9th
Queen of Katwe
Image Source: Getty Images
After opening the festival with ‘A United Kingdom’, David Oyelowo returned to Leicester Square alongside co-star Lupita Nyong’o and director Mira Nair for a gala screening of ‘Queen of Katwe’; an African drama based on a true story about young girl from the slums of Uganda, who becomes an international chess competitor and uses the game to transform her life in this feelgood Disney drama about dreaming big. ‘Queen of Katwe’ is out on the 21st of October in the UK and is out now in the US.
Queen of Katwe red carpet interviews (courtesy of Virgin Atlantic)
Bleed for This
Image Source: Getty Images
The end of the first week at this year’s LFF also brought a gala screening of Ben Younger’s boxing biopic ‘Bleed for This’; a biographical drama about the life of self-styled, ferocious East Coast American boxer and former Middleweight world champion Vinny Pazienza, and his struggles towards championship glory after a near life and career-ending accident. Director Younger was on hand with star Miles Teller, along with co-stars Aaron Eckhart and Ciarán Hinds,‘Bleed for This’ is out on the 2nd of December in the UK and 18th of November in the US.
Bleed for This cast & crew Q&A (courtesy of BFI)
Week 2 at the 2016 London Film Festival—>
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