The lineup for the 2011 edition of the BFI London Film Festival has been announced. The festival, which begins October 12 and runs until October 27, will open with the European premiere of “360,” directed by Fernando Meirelles (“City of God,” “The Constant Gardner,” “Blindness”) and written by Peter Morgan, whose screenplays include the critically acclaimed “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon.”
"'I'm delighted that ‘360’ will be our opening night film, and very pleased to welcome back Fernando Meirelles and Peter Morgan to the festival,” said Sandra Hebron, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director. “With its impeccable filmmaking credentials and intriguing premise, ‘360’ combines masterful visual story telling with a modern and moving narrative, helped by strong performances from a terrific ensemble cast. It will be a pleasure to open this year's festival with such an accomplished film from one of international cinema's finest filmmakers."
The closing night film will be Terence Davies’ “The Deep Blue Sea.” Set in post-war Britain, this deeply moving adaptation of Terence Rattigan's classic play is a study of forbidden love, suppressed desire and the fear of loneliness, and stars Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston and Simon Russell Beale.
"It's a great pleasure to be able to close the festival with this exquisite new feature from one of our most cherished directors,” Hebron said. Terence Davies is a filmmaker who the BFI has supported from the very beginnings of his career, and in Terence Rattigan's centenary year, this beautifully directed and acted film is this perfect closing film."
Over the course of the 16 day festival run, the LFF will screen 204 feature films and 110 shorts. Highlights of the festival include George Clooney’s “The Ides of March,” Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk about Kevin” and David Croenberg’s “A Dangerous Method.” The Archive Gala title for this year’s festival is the BFI National Archive’s restoration print of Miles Mander’s “The First Born,” featuring a new score by Stephen Horne.
The Film on the Square program features Roman Polanski’s “Carnage,” Werner Herzog’s “Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “Once Upon a Time in Antolia” and Andrea Arnold’s “Wuthering Heights.”
The New British Cinema program shines a spotlight on upcoming filmmakers from all across the UK. D.R. Hood's “Wreckers,” Dexter Fletcher's directorial debut “Wild Bill” and Andrew Haigh's award-winning second feature “Weekend” will all receive their UK premieres at the festival.
Returning for their third year, the BFI London Film Festival Awards continue to recognize the best filmmakers, regardless of experience. This year’s jurors and the full list of nominations will be announced on October 4, and the awards presentations will be on October 26 at LSO St. Luke’s.
