The 55th BFI London Film Festival

21 Oct

By Ozzie

The 55th BFI (British Film Institute) London Film Festival started on the 12th of October and ends on the 27th of October.[1] It was founded in 1956, although at the time it was called the “first free cinema programme”, by Lindsay Anderson (a director) and Karel Reisz (also a director).[2] The programme was so popular, it was decided to become an annual event, and was renamed as The London Film Festival the next year.[3]

This year’s festival will feature 204 full length film and 110 short films.[4] The opening film was 360 directed by Fernando Meirelles. Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Rachel Weisz and Jude Law, it tells the story of a man who decides to remain faithful to his wife, but in doing so, he sets of a chain of events leading to interconnecting relationships around the globe. As well as other festival favourites (Carnage, The Ides of March, A Dangerous Method, and The Descendants), other Gala highlights include We Need to Talk About Kevin (directed by Lynne Ramsay) and Wuthering Heights (directed by Andrea Arnold).

We Need to Talk About Kevin is adapted from Lionel Shriver’s novel of the same name and is about a woman whose son is a murderer.[5] It flashes between his up-bringing then to his mother who is suffering from the after effect of his crimes. It stars Tilda Swinton, John C Riley and Ezar Miller. Wuthering Heights stars Kaya Scodelario, James Howson, Oliver Milburn, Nichola Burley, and Steve Evets. It is based on the original story by Emily Bronte; it does take a radical approach by the way its filmed, the little dialogue or music and an unknown cast, making it much darker than the book[6]. The closing film will be The Deep Blue Sea directed by Terence Davies. Set in the 1950’s, Rachel Weisz stars as a wife of a Judge, who falls for an ex RAF pilot. She leaves her husband to be with him but soon realises the relationship won’t be as she thought it would be. It also stars Tom Hiddleston and Simon Russell Beale.[7]

The BFI London Film Festival also has its own awards ceremony and will take place on the 26th of October. For Best Film Award, the nominees are 360, The Artist, The Deep Blue Sea, The Descendants, Faust, The Kid With A Bike, Shame, Trishna and We Need To Talk About Kevin. For The Grierson Award for Best Documentary, the nominees are Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey, Better This World, The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, Dragonslayer, Dreams of a Life, Into The Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life, Last Days Here and Whore’s Glory.  The Sutherland Award (for the director with the most imaginative and original first film) nominees are Corpo Celesta, Eternity, HERE, The House, Las Acacias, Last Winter, Michael, Mourning, She Monkeys, Snowtown, The Sun-Beaten Path and Without. For Best British Newcomer Award, the nominees are Nick Murphy (director for The Awakening), Tinge Krishnan (director for Junkhearts), Candese Reid (actress in Junkhearts), Nirpal Bhogal (writer/director of Sket), Aimee Kelly (actress in Sket) Tom Cullen (actor in Weekend) Chris New (actor in Weekend0 and D.R. Hood (writer/director of Wreckers). This year’s BFI Fellowship (awarded to people with outstanding contribution to film or TV) goes to David Cronenberg (director) and Ralph Fiennes (actor).[8]

Click to visit official site: British Film Institute (BFI)

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46 Responses to “The 55th BFI London Film Festival”

  1. Littlebells October 21, 2011 at 10:44 AM #

    Ozzie,

    As always, fantastic and informative!

    Thank you for all your research and hard work. I have learned so much. 🙂

  2. comic relief October 21, 2011 at 1:59 PM #

    Ozzie,

    Ah the plot thickens…LOL. I love the way you keep us aware of what is happening in festival land. In the past we have kept up with what the UK expects to appear on the BAFTA awards (or the Academy Awards). I guess this festival presents some of their first or potential picks.

    Can’t believe all of the categories and movies I have heard of before. I expected the programming to reflect a lot of movies we have already heard about; but obviously not.

    I have loved so many British films. Can’t wait to hear your evaluation of how all of these films may have missed the American radar.

  3. comic relief October 22, 2011 at 1:33 PM #

    Sorry Ozzie, I couldn’t wait…
    These trailer’s should be familiar to visitors of this site:

    • Carnage

    • A Dangerous Method

    The Ides of March

    • Shame

    • The Descendants

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:44 PM #

      I have no idea about it’s real chances, but “SHAME” just keeps looking better and better.

      • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:45 PM #

        Is that Cary Mulligan (hope her name is spelled correctly) singing? Wow.

        • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:03 PM #

          I have no idea. I’d have to look that up! 🙂

          • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:04 PM #

            I would love to find out she had a talent for that also.

            • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:27 PM #

              I haven’t found anything specific yet but it’s probably her. She can sing and sang on this song!

              • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:51 PM #

                Thanks for the assist Ozzie. 🙂 :):):):):):):):):):)

                If likely I look forward to hearing her in the film.

                • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:54 PM #

                  You’re welcome!

  4. comic relief October 22, 2011 at 1:36 PM #

    Though well regarded these trailer’s should be less familiar to LIH visitors;

    • We Need to Talk About Kevin

    • The Deep Blue Sea

    • The Artist

    • Faust

    • The Kid With A Bike

    • Trishna

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:50 PM #

      Ozzie or anyone,

      Am I wrong? It seems like the BFFI is much more inclusive of European and otherwise film for best picture than the Academy awards. Who, in the recent past, would have relegated most of this to the best foreign film categories?

      • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:55 PM #

        Continuing from the subject mentioned in the previous post, notice how recent “Slumdog Millionaire” (Academy Award 2009) actress Freida Pinto, is cast in “Trishna”.

        • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:31 PM #

          I’m trying to find the previous winners list. Unfortunately, I can’t remember where I saw it and searching hasn’t come up with much (which is odd) but I will find it! 🙂

          • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:48 PM #

            I think what I meant was, the US wouldn’t likely allow a foreign film to win the best picture award. Until “Slumdog Millionaire” the idea of foreign film’s winning was almost unheard of.

            BFI (abbreviate correctly this time) doesn’t have this problem by the fact that it includes foreign films in it’s best picture category from the start. Hopely this progressive move will catch on state side.

            • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:53 PM #

              I knew what you meant! 🙂 I was interested too, in seeing if they had been placed in best foreign film rather than best film.

  5. comic relief October 22, 2011 at 1:37 PM #

    Some nominated for best documentary:

    • Better This World

    • The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975,

    • Dragonslayer????

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:40 PM #

      Maybe I do not understand something but neither “Better This World” nor “Dragonslayer” meet my typical expectations about documentaries.

      • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:41 PM #

        Both of the previously mentioned films seem to be theatrical features, IMHO.

        • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:28 PM #

          Yes, after viewing the trailers I thought so too.

  6. comic relief October 22, 2011 at 1:38 PM #

    Some nominees for the Sutherland Award (the director with the most imaginative and original first film):

    • Michael

    • She Monkeys

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:02 PM #

      I guess to determine the most imaginative and original first film you really have to see the film. There probably isn’t enough information in a trailer to even speculate about this determination.

      • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:03 PM #

        At another time I’d like to see past winners of this award and find out what past recipients are currently doing.

        • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:32 PM #

          Still trying to find that list!

  7. Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:14 PM #

    Wow! CR U have been busy on YouTube LOL!!

    Can’t wait to check out all of them and discuss. Give me a few.

  8. ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM #

    Hi all! I’m here but I have to catch up with all the comments. It may take some time.

    • littlebells October 22, 2011 at 3:22 PM #

      I think he may have surpassed me in my YouTube quests! Haha!

      We saw the trailer for The Artist and think it looks very good. Sorry, I’m in and out while chilling in Carmel. 🙂

      • Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:25 PM #

        Oh!! I want to be in Carmel. Will u go wine tasting?

        • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:33 PM #

          I hope you’re having fun LB!

      • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:29 PM #

        LB,

        Oh and don’t worry; no one can surpass you in regard to Youtube quests. The crown can stay where it’s currently sitting.

        Agreed, regarding “The Artist”.

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:25 PM #

      OB,

      Well Ozzie provided the list. The next question is: what are these films? These are the only ones I could find. Enjoy.

  9. Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:24 PM #

    Michael, Michael, Michael. He’s quite interesting……He should definitely be in the running for an Oscar this year.

    • Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:26 PM #

      I’m talking about Michael Fasbender of course. Sorry!

      • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:32 PM #

        OB,

        Oh, you may not have noticed there is a movie called “Michael” above. LOL.

        I agree Mr. Fasbender is dangerous; Mr. Clooney better watch his back.

        • Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:58 PM #

          I did! LOL!!That’s why I corrected myself. I was thinking of course everyone here would know who I was referring too.

  10. Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:53 PM #

    The films I’m looking forward to are.

    Better This World
    Shame
    A Dangerous Method
    Artist
    Carnage
    Faust

    Looks Interesting!
    Trishna ( I love the music)
    The Black Power MixTape
    We need to Talk about Kevin
    The Deep Blue.

    There I’m done

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 3:57 PM #

      Me too.

    • Littlebells October 23, 2011 at 7:43 PM #

      MMMM… I’m going to go with ADM, The Artist, We Need To Talk About Kevin, and Michael. Yeah, I know, not much of a trailer, but Michael interested me enough. There are so many different ways that story can go!

      Carmel was great. No wine tasting but the wedding I was at had plenty of it!

    • Littlebells October 23, 2011 at 7:46 PM #

      Hey I realized Vincent Cassell is in ADM, and I thought he was great in Black Swan!

      (I know I am absolutely crazy asking this question, but is Keira using a Russian accent? I didn’t hear it and it’s bugging me.)

  11. Open Book October 22, 2011 at 3:56 PM #

    Everyone-

    Of the trailers here which ones are u looking forward to?

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:08 PM #

      Shame, A Dangerous Method, The Deep Blue, and the Artist…

      Hopefully I will see most of these before February, but documentaries are not likely to travel or circulate to where I live.

      • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:16 PM #

        My picks are: Carnage, A Dangerous Method, Shame, We Need To Talk About Kevin, In A better World and Michael!

  12. Open Book October 22, 2011 at 4:06 PM #

    Well I have to go.

    Ozzie great, great article again. Very informative. I will check back tomorrow and answer and comment. I really do like the BFI selection of films here. They have a much broader selection and interest. Love it!!

    CR- Great youtube trailer hunting. U get the golden Youtube award for today. LOL!

    Take Care!

    • comic relief October 22, 2011 at 4:15 PM #

      I agree with OB.

      This selection of films looks incredible. I should be returning later in the weekend as well.

      Despite Lurker’s evaluation that the US will not do well box office wise this year; internationally other producers are really putting fourth their A-game.

      • ozzie20 October 22, 2011 at 4:56 PM #

        Calling it a night too. Hopefully, I’ll find the previous winners list better with a clearer head tomorrow! Night all!

  13. Open Book October 23, 2011 at 5:37 PM #

    Francesa,

    If u happened to check in. What do u think of these films? Are there any u are looking forward to seeing? If so why?

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