London Film Festival Spotlight

With film lovers from around the world heading to the UK's capital for this year’s BFI London Film Festival, we wanted to think back to the earlier films available to screen through our Booking Scheme from some of the most acclaimed filmmakers on the BFI’s exciting  programme. Gloria (2013) - Sebastion Lelio A part of the BFI’s ‘Headline Gala’, Sebastian Lelio directs Emma Donoghue’s screen adaptation of her own novel The Wonder. Central character, Lib Wright (Florence Pugh), investigates a religious phenomenon set amongst the backdrop of nineteenth century Ireland. Fans of Florence Pugh can find her breakout performance in Lady Macbeth, also available on our Booking Scheme. While Lelio’s most recent direction follows a woman enraptured in asking timely questions of the past, his fourth feature film Gloria captures a more free-spirited femininity. Lelio portrays fifty-eight-year-old Gloria (Paulina Garcia) determined to shake free the bounds and expectations of older age. Book Gloria. Clemency (2019) - Cinonye Chukwu Chinonye Chukwu’s second feature film, found under the ‘Mayor of London Gala’, depicts the biographical truth of Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler) as she strives for justice following the lynching of her son, Emmett Till. The BFI describe Till as “intelligent, emotional and gripping from the first shot to the last”. Chukwu’s directorial debut, Clemency, can be found on our Booking Scheme. A story confronting complexity within the life of Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodward), a prison warden whose role in carrying out death row executions begins to take its toll. Book Clemency. Amy (2015) and Diego Maradona (2019) - Asif Kapadia Found in the BFI’s ‘Create’ strand that celebrates “artistic expression and the electricity of the creative process”, Academy Award winner Asif Kapadia captures Uzma Hasan’s collaboration with the English National Ballet company. Two of Kapadia’s films from his trilogy of archival lead documentaries can found on our Booking Scheme. Amy and Diego Maradona reveal the inner lives of their title figures with depth and honestly, tracing and documenting their professional careers and personal lives as well as transforming archive footage through the theatrical lens. Book Amy and Diego Maradona. 3 Days in Quiberon (2018) -  Emily Atef BFI describe their ‘Love’ strand as “sweet, passionate and tough”. Emily Atef’s More Than Ever nestles at the heart of this strand in both subject matter and feeling. Following the life of Hélène (Vicky Krieps), her life and relationships are catapulted into the unknown as her terminal diagnosis turns her life upside down. Atef’s acclaimed biopic 3 Days in Quiberon portrays actress Romy Schneider’s final interview during the last weeks before her death. Retreated to a spa hotel, Schneider details her primary concerns within acting and the resulting absence as a mother. Book 3 Days in Quiberon.