The U.K.’s largest movie festival begins as Tom Hanks and director Paul Greengrass take to the red carpet during 12 days of galas, stars and film festivities.
British filmmaker Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks graced the red carpet for the European gala of CAPTAIN PHILIPS for the opening of this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
The movie, which stars Hanks as the titular captain of a U.S. container ship that was hijacked off the Somali coast in 2009, opened the beginning of the 12-day movie festival in style.
The opening ceremony was broadcasted around the U.K. to 30 screens live from London’s Odeon Leicester Square, where Hanks, who was accompanied by his wife, Rita Wilson was greeted by eager fans desperate for a photo or autograph with the Hollywood star.
BFI chief executive Amanda Nevill welcomed the guests and thanked sponsors for their financial support for the festival, whilst Clare Stewart, the BFI’s head of exhibition and distribution, took to the stage to welcome Greengrass and company.
With Hanks starring in both the opening and closing film, SAVING MR. BANKS, and the fact he is a producer on PARKLAND, which will have its own LFF gala, Stewart joked about how next year’s festival may have to create a “Hanks” sidebar.Â
The 57th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express, will welcome over 500 guests for the 12 day event including over 150 directors with over 110 actors in tow for the 235 feature films.
There will be no shortage of talent expected to show for the various gala events, as Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Jason Reitman, Tom Hiddleston, Jesse Eisenberg, John Curran, Dane DeHaan, Alex Gibney, Greg Wise, Robin Wright, Ari Folman, Anna Kendrick, Emily Mortimer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charlie Cox, Jodie Whittaker, Christian Cooke, Annabelle Wallis, Tahar Rahim, David Thewlis and Terry Gilliam will be in attendance.
The event will also play host to its usual mix of career interviews, masterclasses, and other special events with cast, crew and filmmakers.
The festival will close with the world premiere of John Lee Hancock‘s SAVING MR. BANKS about Walt Disney and the creative process behind the groundbreaking British musical Mary Poppins.
The festival begins on October 9th through to October 20th.
