With the London Film Festival fast approaching, the BFI has just announced several new additions to an already packed lineup, giving film fans even more to get excited about.
Over 11 days, from October 7 to October 18, London’s iconic cinemas, including BFI’s own Southbank cinema, will host an array of films from around the world.
Last week, a star-studded lineup was announced, with the likes of Pedro Pascal, Javier Bardem and Jenna Ortega all taking the helm of various projects to be featured at the festival.
And now, several more films have been added to the programme. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new.
Artificial
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, Monica Barbaro, Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Ike Barinholtz, Chris O’Dowd and Mark Rylance.
Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial follows the fascinating story of OpenAI creator Sam Altman, detailing the time period when the AI boss was fired and then rehired by the company.
The film made headlines when Amazon AGM announced that they had dropped the film, stating that it would be “better served if it were released by a different studio.” It is now being distributed by Neon.
The decision came months after Amazon signed a major partnership with OpenAI, including a $50billion investment.
Primetime
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and Anna Faris.
Pattinson stars a fictionalised version of Chris Hansen, host of To Catch a Predator, a 2000s US TV hit show which staged sting operations aimed at would-be paedophiles.
When executives decide to move the show to a primetime slot, Hansen and his production team must up the ante to keep their audience, no matter the cost.
The show was cancelled as a result of a 2006 wrongful death lawsuit after Texas assistant district attorney Bill Conradt died by suicide during one of Hansen’s operations.
Hansen has not been involved in the production of the movie and has made his criticism of the project, which he called “disingenuous” and exploitative”, widely known.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 5, Pattinson said: “I mean, obviously I hope he likes the movie.”
Misty Green
Starring: Rosalind Eleazar, Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Topher Grace and Anna Kendrick
Misty Green, with director and screenwriter Chris Rock at the helm, follows a washed-up actor attempting to turn her life around and reignite her career.
When she encounters an old acquaintance, however, her long-awaited comeback could be jeopardised.
Everest: The Other Side
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, directors of Free Solo, return with their most personal film to date.
The documentary follows mountaineering couple Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson as they attempt to do something that has never been done before: ski down the direct North Face of Mount Everest.
Their story encapsulates ambition, bravery and love, all while in pursuit of the impossible.
Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall
Hot off his Oscar win for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson returns with a concert film following Geese frontman Cameron Winter.
It follows Winter’s sold-out solo performance at the iconic New York City venue last year.
Recorded on 35mm and 16mm film by Anderson, the concert film, which is co-produced by Benny Safdie, is a “rapturous celebration of live performance, whose appeal should reach far beyond the band and Winter's existing fan base”.
Tickets for BFI Members go on sale on September 10 at 10am, whilst general tickets are live from 10am on September 17.
