The BFI London Film Festival (LFF) is coming soon to a capital city near you – and today came news of the festival’s closing night film. Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire will get its European premiere on October 16, the final night of the festival’s 60th edition.
“To be the closing film is a great honour,” said Wheatley in a statement, whose profile has been in rapid ascent over the past few years, with Sightseers and High-Rise both screening in previous London Film Festivals. “LFF have been fantastic in supporting the films I've made (me and an army of hundreds) and I can't wait to show Free Fire to the festival audience!”
Wheatley’s sixth film in seven years stars Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer and Wheatley regular Michael Smiley, and details a weapons deal gone wrong in 1970s Massachusetts.
"We are thrilled to be presenting the European Premiere as our Closing Night gala," said the festival's director, Clare Stewart, "ensuring that the 60th edition of the BFI London Film Festival goes out with a bang."
It’s only the third film confirmed to appear at this year’s LFF, with Amma Asante’s A United Kingdom previously announced as the opening night gala and David Oyelowo drama Queen Of Katwe getting a European premiere. The full programme will be announced on September 1, ahead of the festival proper running from October 5–16.