Steve McQueen's Film4-backed Widows to open BFI London Film Festival

12 July 2018

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® is thrilled to announce that this year’s Opening Night gala will be Academy Award®- winner Steve McQueen’s WIDOWS. The International premiere will take place on Wednesday 10th October at the Cineworld, Leicester Square. Co-written by McQueen and best-selling novelist and screenwriter Gillian Flynn and starring Academy Award®- winner Viola Davis, WIDOWS is a complex thriller about a group of women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. A star-studded ensemble cast includes: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya and Jacki Weaver with Robert Duvall and Liam Neeson.

BFI Fellow, WIDOWS Director and Co-Writer Steve McQueen comments: “I am absolutely delighted that WIDOWS will be opening this year's BFI London Film Festival. Watching the UK TV version of Lynda La Plante's original thriller as a teenager in the 80s had a major impact on me and so it feels very special to be sharing this film with a UK audience."

BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, Tricia Tuttle says: “We treasure the work of BFI Fellow and Festival alumni Steve McQueen, so it’s an utter pleasure to open our Festival with the International Premiere of WIDOWS. Adapted from a ground-breaking UK television classic into a feature to savour on the biggest cinema screens, this is scintillatingly rich storytelling from a magnificent filmmaker, probing issues around race, class and gender, while always delivering immense style and crackingly sharp thrills.”

From Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and co-writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. Taking place in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of political and class turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. WIDOWS also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry. Based on the TV series “Widows” by Lynda La Plante, the film sees Steve McQueen serve as producer, together with Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Arnon Milchan.

From Twentieth Century Fox, Regency Enterprises and See-Saw Films in association with Film4, WIDOWS is released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 9 November.

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® takes place from Wednesday 10 October-Sunday 21 October 2018. The full Festival programme will be announced on Thursday 30 August 2018.

- Ends-

WIDOWS’ Assets – Trailer/Stills

Link - https://ferefltd.box.com/v/WidowsAssets

Password – Widows2018

www.foxpressofficeuk.com

For further press information and general enquiries about the 62nd BFI London Film Festival:

Please note the different festival sections, contacts and accreditation for 2018

OPENING/CLOSING AND HEADLINE GALAS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS and ASSOCIATED SCREEN TALKS:

Email:  LFFPress@ddapr.com  | Tel: +44 +207 932 9800

Head of Press: Kate Hudson    Festival Publicity Assistant: Georgie Markham

For Opening Night Red Carpet Media Enquiries and all Red Carpets for HEADLINE GALAS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

Email: LFFRedcarpet1@ddapr.com   |Tel: +44 207 932 9800 

Media Manager: Hannah Proudlock    Red Carpet Assistant: Gabriella Syer-Willoughby

MAIN FESTIVAL PROGRAMME AND STRAND GALAS, LFF AWARDS, EVENTS and FILMMAKER TEAS:

Email:  LFFPress@ddapr.com  | Tel: +44 +207 932 9800

Head of Press: Rob Deacon    

For Red Carpet Media Enquiries for MAIN FESTIVAL PROGRAMME AND STRAND GALAS

Email: LFFRedcarpet2@ddapr.com   |Tel: +44 207 932 9800 

Media Manager: Sam Ross      

GENERAL ENQUIRIES and FESTIVAL ACCREDITATION

BFI London Film Festival PR Manager: Mia Farrell

Email: Mia.Farrell@bfi.org.uk | Tel: +44 (0)20 7957 8970

Accreditation email: LFFPressAccreditation@bfi.org.uk

BFI Head of Press and PR: Judy Wells

Tel: +44 (0)7984 180 501

 

For further details on the UK release of WIDOWS

Twentieth Century Fox Press Office: Tel: +44(0)207 753 7195

Twentieth Century Fox – Eve.ragout@fox.com / Josh.samonini@fox.com

 

Festival Information & Ticket Booking

BFI Members’ priority booking opens 10.00am, 6 September – join at www.bfi.org.uk/join  

Public booking opens 10.00am, 13 September

Telephone Bookings: 020 7928 3232 between 10:00 – 20:30

Online: www.bfi.org.uk/lff  

In person: BFI Southbank Office: 10:00 – 20:30

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the BFI

The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:

Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema

Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future   generations

Championing emerging and world class film makers in the UK - investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work

Promoting British film and talent to the world

Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences

The BFI is a Government arm’s-length body and distributor of Lottery funds for film. The BFI serves a public role which covers the cultural, creative and economic aspects of film in the UK. It delivers this role:

As the UK-wide organisation for film, a charity core funded by Government

By providing Lottery and Government funds for film across the UK

By working with partners to advance the position of film in the UK.    

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Josh Berger.

The BFI London Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival is Britain's leading film event and one of the world's best film festivals. It introduces the finest new British and international films to an expanding London and UK-wide audience and attracts significant international film industry participation. LFF is a compelling combination of diverse films, red carpet glamour, friendly audiences and vibrant exchange. LFF provides an essential profiling opportunity for films seeking global success; promotes the careers of British and international filmmakers through its industry and awards programmes and positions London as the world’s leading creative city.

Tricia Tuttle Biography

Tricia Tuttle’s appointment as Artistic Director follows five successful years as Deputy Head of Festivals at BFI, including BFI Flare and BFI London Film Festival. Moving from North Carolina in 1997 to complete a joint MA at BFI and Birkbeck, University of London in Film and TV Studies, Tricia’s passion for film has seen her work as a programmer, lecturer, writer and journalist. Her career has spanned a five year tenure at BAFTA, starting in 2008 and with her appointment as Film Programme Manager in 2011; programming the BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (the pre-cursor to BFI Flare) and as Event Producer at London’s The Script Factory. Highly regarded by the BFI and industry, Tuttle has been instrumental in evolving BFI Festivals, continuing to expand audience reach year on year and introducing impactful initiatives such as BFI Flare’s FiveFilms4Freedom, in partnership with the British Council.

About Amex Invites

American Express connects Cardmembers to the kinds of rewarding experiences and opportunities that matter to them and their businesses. Through Amex Invites, Cardmembers have access to presale tickets, as well as the best seats and exclusive offers at some of the UK’s most sought-after entertainment events via partnerships with a range of entertainment institutions including AEG, Live Nation, Somerset House, The British Film Institute and The National Theatre.  Amex Invites is just one example of the powerful backing that American Express provides its customers.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

About 20th Century Fox

One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, 20th Century Fox produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

About New Regency:

Founded in 1991 by renowned producer Arnon Milchan, New Regency is actively engaged in entertaining the world. The company has produced some of the most successful and critically-acclaimed films of all time with over 130 films and more than 50 television series in the company’s vast library, including Academy Award®-winner “The Revenant” (2016) and the back-to-back Academy Award®-winning Best Pictures, “12 Years A Slave” (2014) and “Birdman” (2015). New Regency is also dedicated to continuing to foster its unparalleled filmmaker relationships and today boasts partnerships with the most acclaimed and sought-after creative forces in the industry.

About See-Saw Films

Academy Award® winning producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman founded See-Saw Films in 2008. See-Saw is a UK and Australian company specializing in international Film and Television production.

See-Saw produced six-time Academy Award® nominated Lion, starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara as well as The King’s Speech which swept up four Academy Awards® in 2011 including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Colin Firth and a Best Director nod for Tom Hooper.

See-Saw’s current film projects includeMary Magdalene starring Academy Award® nominees Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix; John Cameron Mitchell’sHow to Talk to Girls at Parties starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman; and Academy Award® winner Steve McQueen’s Widows which See-Saw is producing for New Regency to be released by Twentieth Century Fox in 2018.

See-Saw’s television division formally started in 2012 and kicked off with the multi-award winning first season of Jane Campion’s ‘Top of the Lake’. Campion returned with ‘Top of The Lake: China Girl’starring Elisabeth Moss, Nicole Kidman and Gwendoline Christie which premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe.

‘The New Legends of Monkey’, is See-Saw’s live action television series produced for Netflix, ABC Australia and TVNZ. See-Saw is currently in development on ‘The North Water’ to be written and directed by Andrew Haigh (45 Years), adapted from the novel by Ian McGuire.

About Film4

Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking, both new and established.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award®-winners such as Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Asif Kapadia’s box office record breaking documentary Amy, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Chris Morris’s Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years and David Mackenzie’s Starred Up.

Film4’s recent releases include Andrew Haigh’s Lean on Pete, Clio Barnard’s Dark River, Michael Pearce’s Beast, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch, and Danny Boyle’s T2 Trainspotting. Forthcoming releases include Bart Layton’s American Animals, Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience, Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, Lenny Abrahamson’s The Little Stranger, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite, Tinge Krishnan’s Been So Long, Iain Morris’s The Festival, Mike Leigh’s Peterloo, Steve McQueen’s Widows, Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family, Tom Harper’s Wild Rose and Jim Hosking’s An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn. Films in production or pre-production include Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield, Asif Kapadia’s Maradona, Nick Rowland’s Calm With Horses, Justin Kurzel’s True History of the Kelly Gang, Coky Giedroyc’s adaptation of Caitlin Moran’s How To Build a Girl, and Chaplin from Peter Middleton and James Spinney.

For further information please visit www.film4productions.com.