As the weather takes a turn for the damp and the days get darker, it’s easy to feel a little melancholy about the looming end of the year. But with autumn comes much excitement for cinema lovers: October heralds another year of the BFI London Film Festival, which brings some of the year’s most anticipated films plus exciting new discoveries to our screens.
Don’t let the name fool you – despite being based in the capital, LFF has 11 partner cinemas across the country who will be showing a selection of titles from the programme, including Pictureville. Eight exciting films will play at Pictureville between 8 and 18 October, featuring some household names, new talent and plenty of surprises. No matter where your cinematic tastes lie there’s bound to be something that piques your interest – the real question is how do you decide which to book? To help make the decision a little easier, I’ve picked five of my favourite festival titles headed to Pictureville this October. Read on to find out why you won’t want to miss these on the big screen…
Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro has a serious claim to being one of the greatest living filmmakers around – from Pan’s Labyrinth to Pacific Rim and The Shape of Water he’s been crafting incredible, imaginative worlds unlike anything else for over two decades, delighting audiences with his creativity and love for cinematic craft. Throughout that time, del Toro has often spoken of his dream project: a faithful adaptation of his favourite novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Just in time for Halloween, you can witness his gothic take on this iconic story, starring the impossibly charming Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and certified heartthrob Jacob Elordi as you’ve never seen him before in the role of the Creature. Mia Goth, David Bradley and Christoph Waltz round out the stacked cast, each bringing their A-Game to del Toro’s lifelong dream. It’s a dazzling feast of gothic imagery and high drama, but with an unquestionable emotional pull in the relationship between creator and creation. Del Toro brings his singular imagination, but also a distinct sense of empathy – you might think you know the story of Frankenstein, but you’ve never seen it like this.
For fans of: The Shape of Water, Nosferatu
My Father’s Shadow
The multi-talented Akinola Davies Jr. got his start making music videos and fashion films for the likes of Gucci and Louis Vuitton, gaining a reputation for his standout visuals and original storytelling. His feature debut premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year to rave reviews – and with good reason. My Father’s Shadow, which he co-wrote with his brother Wale Davies, is based on experiences from their childhood in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s a poignant story of brotherly bickering and the fickleness of memory, as two young brothers spend a day with their father against the backdrop of the 1993 presidential election. The film finds its heart in the young Nigerian actors (and real-life brothers!) Godwin Chiemerie and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo whose cheeky, energetic performances as Remi and Akin tug at your heartstrings, while the always excellent Sope Dirisu plays Femi, their estranged and enigmatic father. As well as being a touching family drama, Davies Jr’s vibrant film has a distinct sense of humour and perspective, heralding the arrival of a sharp new filmmaking force.
For fans of: Aftersun, I Am Not A Witch
The Mastermind
Josh O’Connor needs no introduction – since breaking out in 2017’s God’s Own Country he’s become a certified superstar. He has two films showing at Pictureville as part of the LFF programme, and while you might have heard about Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which sees O’Connor team up with Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc, you’d do well to check out The Mastermind. This 1970s heist film set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War almost defies genre, because it’s nothing like Ocean’s 11 or The Thomas Crown Affair. That’s definitely because it comes from Kelly Reichardt, the filmmaker behind Wendy & Lucy and First Cow, whose unique brand of American independent cinema has made her a favourite among many cinephiles. Her new film sees O’Connor play against type as something of a villain – husband and father JB Mooney, who decides, almost on a whim, to stage a heist at his local art gallery. Things don’t quite go to plan and JB ends up on the lamb – chaos naturally ensues. With a cinematic energy that evokes Bob Dylan and a stand-out supporting cast including Alana Haim and Reichardt regular John Magaro.
For fans of: La Chimera, The Long Goodbye
Hamnet
Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel of the same name, Hamnet tells the story behind the most famous play ever written: Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Chloé Zhao, best known as the Oscar-winning director of Nomadland and The Rider, directs Irish icons Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley in this evocative and intimate drama, as William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes meet as young adults and fall in love, then start a family and eventually suffer the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son. It is this heartbreak which eventually moves the playwright to write his masterpiece, and in the deft hands of Zhao and O’Farrell who adapted her book for the screen, this legendary story is afforded the tenderness and care it deserves. From its lush cinematography to the powerful performances delivered by Buckley and Mescal, you’ll want to bring a packet of tissues for this one – Hamnet is a sweeping, transportive drama about love and loss, and what comes after the unthinkable.
For fans of: Pride & Prejudice, Lady Macbeth
Giant
Born and raised just down the road in Sheffield, British-Yemeni athlete Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed is a sporting legend, rising through the ranks to become a world champion and one of the most successful British boxers of all time. Naz Hamed’s story heads for the big screen thanks to director Rowan Athale, with Amir El-Masry in the lead role and Pierce Brosnan at his side playing Hamed’s Irish trainer Brendan Ingle who was instrumental to Hamed’s success. But it’s not just other fighters that Hamed had to face, contending with Islamophobia and racism both in and out of the ring. Amir El-Masry (also appearing this year in 100 Nights of Hero) might be familiar from his roles in Limbo and The Night Manager, but Giant is his biggest challenge to date and he jumps in with characteristic determination and dedication.
For Fans Of: Creed, Ferrari