Strong European presence in London line-up
Playing to its traditional strengths, the 51st edition of the Times BFI London Film Festival (October 17-November 1) boasts of a strong European selection as well as a range of home grown titles in addition to a range of world cinema from 43 countries. This year, the festival has 184 features and 133 shorts that include 7 World, 29 European and 128 UK premieres.
Danish director Suzanne Bier’s English language debut Things We Lost in the Fire gets a gala screening while Cristian Mungiu’s Cannes-winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days [+see also:
film review
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interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Oleg Mutu
film profile] and Julian Schnabel’s French language debut The Diving Bell and the Butterfly [+see also:
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film profile] merit special screenings. Mungiu’s film forms part of a special event titled Romanian Cinema: The Next New Wave? that also features Cristian Nemescu’s California Dreamin’ (Endless) [+see also:
trailer
film profile].
European films are represented in the Cinema Europa and French Revolution strands. Highlights include Alexander Sokurov’s Alexandra, Francois Ozon’s Angel [+see also:
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film profile], Andrei Zviaguintsev’s The Banishment [+see also:
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film profile], Michael Haneke’s American remake of Funny Games [+see also:
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film profile], Abdellatif Kechiche’s popular Venice winner The Secret of the Grain [+see also:
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interview: Hafsia Herzi
film profile] and Nicolas Philibert’s Back to Normandy [+see also:
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film profile] amongst many others.
British filmmaking talent is represented by Penny Woolcock’s Exodus, Garth Jennings’ Son of Rambow: A Home Movie, Nick Broomfield’s Battle for Haditha, Asif Kapadia’s Far North [+see also:
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film profile], Richard Attenborough’s Closing the Ring as well as by newcomers Simon Welsford’s Jetsam and Joanna Hogg’s Unrelated.
Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron said, “In a very strong year for world cinema, we are delighted to be able to present such a wide ranging and high quality programme of films and special events, in which work by internationally renowned directors sits comfortably alongside that from many exciting new talents. ”
The festival opens with David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises and closes with Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited.
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