Altman Launches London Festival

The director of Gosford Park, Robert Altman, tore himself away from the editing suite this morning to help launch the Regus London Film Festival. Speaking to Empire Online. Altman explains that the film was, 'an upstairs, downstairs conceit. Actually most of the action takes place downstairs.' So how was it filming a British film for the first time? 'I've never had such an enjoyable experience,' Altman enthused, before adding that he didn't expect to make much money out of it. 'Whenever we go into these things we have to sign our souls away. There's no way I'm going to make a penny out of this film from start to finish. But I'm not in it for that anyway.' The film's cast which includes such luminaries as Maggie Smith, Alan Bates, Helen Mirren, Kristin Scott-Thomas and Jeremy Northam must be one of the best ensemble casts for years. 'The screen is thick with it,' agreed Altman. 'You're looking at 23 actors on stage at the same time and they're all brilliant.' So how did he manage to persuade them all to come on board? 'It's like having a party - I sent them an invitation.' Gosford Park, which will open in the US at Christmas and in the UK in February will open the London Film Festival on 7 November 2001 at the Odeon Leicester Square. The full slate of film for the festival was announced today. The main galas include the international premieres of Monsters Inc, Windtalkers and Novocaine. Stars expected to attend include Martin Sheen - who will be talking about Apocalypse Now Redux, Bruce Willis who will be in town for the premiere of his movie Bandits and both Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey who will be here for the closing gala movie K-Pax. Empire Online will be covering the festival, which runs from 7-22 November 2001 in depth, talking to the stars, and covering all the gala premieres. So make sure you make us your bookmark for the Regus London Film Festival.