22/07/2014 - Alan Turing biopic stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley

The Imitation Game, by Norwegian filmmaker Morten Tyldum (Headhunters [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) will open the 58^th British Film Institute (BFI) London Film Festival (8-19 October). The European premiere will have a live cinecast from the red carpet and simultaneous screenings at cinemas across the UK. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, as well as Tyldum, are expected to attend.

The screenplay by Graham Moore, based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, the pioneer of modern-day computing who is credited with cracking the German Enigma code, and the film is a nail-biting race against time by Turing and his team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

Black Bear Pictures’ Teddy Schwarzman produces alongside Bristol Automotive’s Nora Grossman and Ido Ostrowsky, with Moore as executive producer and Peter Heslop (The King’s Speech [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tom Hooper
film profile]) as co-producer. Filmnation Entertainment is overseeing international distribution, and Studiocanal will release the film in UK cinemas on 14 November. 

Clare Stewart, BFI London Film Festival director, said, “Featuring extraordinary performances from the British talent in front of the camera and vividly directed by Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game does cinematic justice to Alan Turing’s vision, determination and personal story as well as his enduring impact on British history and contemporary life.”

Tyldum said, “The experience of directing this film has been so tremendously rewarding, and I am humbled to share Alan Turing’s incredible story on Opening Night.”