The 66th annual BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its full lineup this morning, in advance of the festival proper in October.
The UK’s largest film festival’s programme includes 164 feature films, all making their first appearances in front of UK audiences, with 23 world, six international and 15 European premieres also taking place at the festival.
Matilda, the adaptation of the smash west-end musical of the same name, will open the festival, while Rian Johnson’s much-anticipated sequel to 2019’s Knives Out, Glass Onion, will see audiences out the theatrical door by closing the festival.
There’ll be plenty to see in between, though, including Sam Mendes’ follow up to Oscar-winner 1917, Empire of Light; Guillermo Del Toro’s stop-motion adaptation of the puppet-staring odyssey Pinocchio; and the international premiere of Maria Schrader’s #MeToo drama She Said.
Alongside the expected features, the programme also includes a collection of series premieres, including Emily Blunt’s revenge-drama The English, and shorts, several of which will be available for free on the BFI Player for the duration of the festival.
The organisers have made important strides to improve representation across the festival, with 41% of the programme made by female and non-binary creators, and 34% made by ethnically diverse artists.
Taking place at the BFI Southbank and partnered venues across London, the festival will run from 5-14 October, with tickets going on sale later this month.
