The BFI London Film Festival has announced the dates for this year’s festival. The 63rd edition of the London Film Festival will run Oct. 2-13. The festival will once again be led by Tricia Tuttle, who was appointed director of BFI festivals at the closing night of last year’s iteration having served as the 62nd edition’s artistic director for the first time.
Tuttle, pictured (far right) at the world premiere of “Stan & Ollie” which closed the 2018 festival, said: “We had a cracking 2018 edition. Our highest ever occupancies were a testament to our adventurous audiences who eagerly savor a wide range of global cinema. It made for a fabulous experience for filmmakers and a great place to launch a film. We can’t wait to build on that in 2019.”
The 2018 edition served as a platform for many of the films that went on to score BAFTA nominations and awards at last night’s British Academy Film Awards, including “Stan & Ollie” which received three BAFTA nominations including outstanding British film. Both BAFTA best film-winner “Roma” and “The Favourite,” which won seven BAFTAs including best actress and outstanding British film, had their U.K. premieres at last year’s London Film Festival.
Overall per screen attendance rose 12% year-on-year in 2018, with the festival’s program reaching an audience of over 205,000 across London and the U.K. including simulcast events. These included a special Manchester-hosted U.K. premiere for Mike Leigh’s “Peterloo” and the world premiere of Peter Jackson’s World War I documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old.”
Submissions for this year’s festival are now open with a final deadline of June 14. Last year’s official competition was won by Sudabeh Mortezai’s “Joy.” The jury was headed by “Room” filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson.