From biopics to animated fantasies and thought-provoking documentaries, the London Film Festival is back for its 70th edition, with about 170 features and dozens more shorts being screened, not just in the capital but in venues across the UK.
The festival opens with Simon Stone’s Elsinore, in which Andrew Scott plays the actor Ian Charleson, preparing to star on the London stage as Hamlet, while seriously ill with AIDS. At the other end of the festival is a very different film, also set in the theatre; Jesse Eisenberg’s comedy, The Debut. In between are more than twenty high-profile Gala screenings, including the world premieres of two animated features, Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn and the stop-motion feature Wildwood, from the creators of Coraline.
Separate from the front-page grabbing galas are three competition strands, including the Grierson Prize for best documentary and the Sutherland award for the best first or second time director.
With so many films to choose from, it’s worth getting some pointers from someone who knows the programme inside out. Like a mother can’t choose her favourite child, the festival’s director, the BFI’s Kristy Matheson, can’t choose her favourite film – but she told us, if you have time for only five films this year, here’s What’s Worth Seeing:
THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH (Ireland), described as a soulful and life-affirming documentary, exploring the power of friendship and connection.
“It’s a wonderful film about a friendship, and one of the most touching films I’ve seen this year.”
A MIGHTY ADVENTURE (Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong), a dialogue-free animation about three insects on an epic adventure.
“It’s a film for any age-group. It’s the story of a group of insect friends, who need to find their way home. It’s very charmingly made and really stole our hearts.”
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JO: CHAPTER PHAEDRA (Greece, Germany, France), is described as a dreamlike, evocative, playful look into the life of a teenager that explores the mysticism of what lingers after life on earth.
“It’s a film that’s looking at a young woman, who is just going through her day normally, and then something quite dramatic happens and the film changes into something else. It’s a film that you really have to give yourself over to. It’s quite a magical screening experience.”
BEING HEUMANN (US), starring Ruth Madeley as the eponymous activist who fought for anti-discrimination laws for people with disabilities in the US.
“It’s a new film from Siân Heder, who brought us CODA. It’s the story of Judith Heumann, who’s a pivotal person in the disability rights activist movement. It shows a moment in her life when her and a group of activists took over a government building in San Francisco, to demand rights that we very much take for granted today. It really engages you. It’s funny and sexy and very political. It takes a historical moment but it feels so contemporary and so alive.”
CAMERON WINTER AT CARNEGIE HALL (US), Paul Thomas Anderson goes from Oscar winning One Battle After Another director to making an intimate documentary about a piano performance by the Geese frontman, Cameron Winter.
“This is a wonderful concert film, shot at Carnegie Hall, with Cameron Winter, who many people will know from the band Geese. It’s a very magic kind of concert moment. You really feel like you are there. And even if you’re not familiar with his music, just the nature of how the film is made, it’s really quite wonderful. You really feel like you’ve had a night out at Carnegie Hall. It’s a very special film.”