BFI London Film Festival this year foregrounds women and social justice
From October 5 to 16, the London Film Festival (which runs in partnership with American Express) takes place in London, opening with Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda The Musical’.
What to watch at the BFI 2022?
The programme this year features 23 world premieres and 164 features. Highlights of the festival include ‘Empire Of Light’, Sam Mendes’ latest film, which will be the festival’s American Express Gala screening, Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’, and ‘Creature’, directed by choreographer Akram Khan and Oscar-winner Asif Kapadia.
BFI London Film Festival 2022 Official Trailer
UK debuts launching at the festival include Dionne Edwards’ ‘Pretty Red Dress’, which delves into Black masculinity and family dynamics, and British-Kenyan artist Grace Ndiritu’s ‘Becoming Plant’.
This year there is also a focus on films about women and social justice, including ‘She Said’, about two New York Times reporters who revealed Harvey Weinstein’s misconduct, and Sarah Polley’s ‘Women Talking’, in which women in an isolated religious colony struggle to reconcile with their faith after a series of sexual assaults. Chinonye Chukwu’s ‘Till’ tells the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley's pursuit of justice after the 1995 lynching her teenage son, Emmett Till, while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
Another must-see at Britain's most prestigious film festival this year is “The Swimmers”, directed by Welsh-Egyptian filmmaker Sally El Hosaini which tells the true story of a Syrian teenager fighting to swim at the Olympics.
What's going on at the London Film Festival?
There will be films, series and immersive artworks from over 63 countries in this year’s programme. According to the festival, 41% of films were made by female and non-binary directors/creators or co-directors/creators and 34% were made by ethnically diverse directors/creators.
The festival will close with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, directed by Rian Johnson and featuring Daniel Craig and Edward Norton.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Official Trailer
Credits for the Main photo: Creature, directed by choreographer Akram Khan and Oscar-winner Asif Kapadia