This year’s BFI London Film Festival will take place from the 4th to the 15th October.
It has been announced that the international premiere of Saltburn, directed, written and produced by Emerald Fennell will be the Opening Night Gala film for this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
Saltburn is the first film to be announced for the upcoming festival, which marks Kristy Matheson’s first festival in her new role as BFI Festivals Director. The film stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan.
Set in the mid-2000s and shot in a variety of locations around the UK, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is struggling to find his place at Oxford University and finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
Talking about the news, Emerald Fennell, said: “I’m honoured that our film is able to open this year’s BFI London Film Festival. It is a festival that inspired me so much growing up, one that I followed excitedly from my bedroom on the other side of London. It feels extra-special that SALTBURN, this very British tale of excess, is able to make its international debut at the wonderful BFI.”
Meanwhile, Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director commented: “As soon as the credits rolled on SALTBURN it was clear we’d met our Opening Night film. Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell returns with an expertly crafted and exhilarating thrill ride of a film that showcases an enormous depth of UK talents in front of and behind the camera. With its exceptional performances, delicious plot twists and a soundtrack of early 21st century pop bangers; this hugely ambitious film immediately stole our hearts and we can’t wait to share it with audiences in London and across the UK this October.”
The film is an Amazon Studios and MGM production, along with MRC and LuckyChap Entertainment.It is set to be released in cinemas on the 24th November 2023.
The full programme for the BFI London Film Festival will be announced soon.