Films to Look Out For at the BFI London Film Festival 2023

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Wed 04 Oct 2023 - Sun 15 Oct 2023

October is fast approaching - and that means that the BFI London Film Festival is just around the corner. Spanning 12 days, the BFI London Film Festival is an unmissable event for cinema enthusiasts. Expect previews of some of the hottest upcoming films, star-studded red-carpet premieres, and special talks with industry experts.

And this year's line-up is shaping up to be a real treat. From future Blockbuster hits such as Emerald Fennell's Saltburn and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon to indie gems like William Oldroyd's Eileen and Molly Manning Walker's How To Have Sex, there's an abundance of cinematic delights to look forward to. Read on to find out 15 of the top films to look out for at the BFI London Film Festival 2023.

1. Saltburn

Kicking off this year's BFI London Film Festival is Emerald Fennell's second feature, Saltburn. Academy-Award-nominated actor Barry Keoghan stars as Oliver, a student who is struggling to fit in at Oxford University until the wealthy Felix (Jacob Elordi) takes him under his wing. Oliver is invited to Felix's family's estate Saltburn for a summer he'll never forget. With Emerald Fennell already making a name for herself with Promising Young Woman in 2020, and a cast that also includes Rosamund Pike, Carey Mulligan and Richard E. Grant, Saltburn has generated a lot of buzz ahead of its screening at the BFI London Film Festival.

2. All of Us Strangers

Another film to get excited about is All of Us Strangers, a British romantic fantasy film. It's directed by Andrew Haigh, who's best known for Lean on Pete (2017) and Weekend (2011), and is an adaptation of Taichi Yamada's 1987 novel Strangers. Debuting with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes after screening at Telluride Film Festival in August, All of Us Strangers is a must-watch. The cast includes Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell and Claire Foy.

3. The Bikeriders

The Bikeriders also premiered at Telluride this year. Directed by Jeff Nichols (Mud, Midnight Special, Loving), The Bikeriders chronicles the rise of a motorcycle gang during the 1960s and 1970s. The cast boasts notable names such as Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy. The Bikeriders promises to be a gripping film that offers a unique take on masculinity and brotherhood.

4. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

23 years after the original Chicken Run was released, its sequel is finally making its way to the big screen. The long-awaited follow-up is bound to be a hit amongst fans of Aardman Animations, as well as newcomers. Ginger, Rocky and their friends move to a Chicktopian Island, unaware that another threat awaits them. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget features the voices of Thandie Newton, Zachery Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton and Lynn Ferguson.

5. The Holdovers

Marking director Alexander Payne's first film in six years, The Holdovers is a comedy that reunites him with Sideways collaborator Paul Giamatti. The Holdovers takes viewers back to the 1970s when a strict professor stuck at a New England prep school during the Christmas break strikes up a friendship with a troubled student (Dominic Sessa) and the head cook (Da'Vine Joy Randolph).

6. Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon is one that's probably on everyone's radar. From acclaimed director Martin Scorsese (The Irishman, The Wolf of Wall Street, Goodfellas), Killers of the Flower Moon is a period crime epic starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro and Lily Gladstone in award-worthy roles. The film was a favourite at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving an impressive 9-minute standing ovation.

7. Maestro

Also showing at the 67th BFI London Film Festival is Maestro, Bradley Cooper's follow-up to A Star Is Born (2018), which judging by its reviews will be a surefire Oscar contender. This biopic centres on Leonard Bernstein, renowned composer of West Side Story, recounting his relationship with wife Felicia Montealegre. The all-star cast includes Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, and of course Bradley Cooper himself.

8. May December

If you like dark comedies, be sure to add May December to your BFI London Film Festival watchlist. Directed by American filmmaker Todd Haynes (who was the driving force behind the critically acclaimed Carol), May December delves into a scandalous age-gap relationship in Savannah. When an actress ventures to the region for research on her upcoming film project, she uncovers the truth about this unconventional love story. The cast comprises of Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.

9. Poor Things

Poor Things is one of the most eagerly awaited films at the Festival, with critics hailing Emma Stone’s performance as the best of her career so far. It was a standout at the Venice Film Festival, earning a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. Emma Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman who is brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe) and navigates the challenges of re-entering society.

10. The End We Start From

In The End We Start From, Jodie Comer turns in an impressive performance as a woman who has to make her way across a flooded futuristic London with a newborn child in tow. Based on a 2017 dystopian novel by Megan Hunter, The End We Start From is a riveting tale of survival against the odds. Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Katherine Waterson and Gina McKee co-star.

11. Foe

Paul Mescal has had a busy few years, with roles in Normal People, The Lost Daughter, Aftersun, God’s Creatures and Carmen. Now he plays Saoirse Ronan’s husband in the dystopian thriller Foe. Helmed by director Garth Davis, Foe is an unsettling story in which the couple’s life is changed after a stranger turns up at their farm in attempt to take the husband into space.

12. Tiger Stripes

Winner of the Grand Prize of Critics’ Week at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Tiger Stripes is a coming-of-age body horror that is reminiscent of Ginger Snaps and Carrie. It centres on a 12-year-old girl who experiences unusual changes during menstruation, with mysterious scars appearing on her body. Writer and director Nell Eu draws from her own experience of feeling like an outsider during puberty and the South-Asian folktale of the were-tiger.

13. Eileen

Adapted from the short novel by Otessa Moshfegh, Eileen is another film that’s been making waves during this year’s festivals. It garnered 88% on Rotten Tomatoes following its premiere at the Sundance Festival. Rising star Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho, Jojo Rabbit, Leave No Trace), is Eileen, a secretary at a prison who's fascinated by her new co-worker Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), and soon becomes entangled in her dark secret.

14. How To Have Sex

How To Have Sex is directed by Scrapper cinematographer Molly Manning Walker. Three teenage girls embark on an end-of-year celebratory trip to Greece in what should be the holiday of a lifetime, but soon turns into a lesson in consent. Mia McKenna-Bruce is the standout of the film, with critics praising her performance as “subtle and complicated” (Vanity Fair), “charming” (Little White Lies) and “extraordinary” (Deadline). It’s best to go into the film with little knowledge of its plot for maximum impact.

15. The Sweet East

Directed by Sean Price Williams, The Sweet East offers a satirical look at contemporary America. Talia Ryder (Do Revenge, Never Rarely Sometimes Always) stars as a rebellious teenager from South Carolina who ditches her class during a trip to Washington and embarks on a cross-country journey by herself, during which she encounters a series of eccentric individuals. Ryder is joined by fellow young actress Ayo Edebiri, who has been making quite the name for herself this year, appearing in the likes of Theater Camp, Bottoms and Abbott Elementary. Jacob Elordi and Rish Shah also star in The Sweet East.

Those are just some of the films you can expect to see at the BFI London Film Festival this year. The event takes place on 4th - 15th October, with most of the screenings being held at BFI Southbank and the Royal Festival Hall. Head on over to the official website for tickets and more information.


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!date 4/10/2023 -- 15/10/2023