The line-up for The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival has been announced and, with 15 world, 14 international and 20 European premieres numbered among the screenings, it's shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.
"I spent the weekend reading about the Venice Film Festival and some of the things that I read suggested that it wasn't a vintage year for cinema," says the festival's Artistic Director, Sandra Hebron. "Well, luckily for us, while we do give awards for short films, the fact that we are not a prize-giving festival gives us much freer reign to screen a series of great films."
She's not kidding. As well as the already announced opening and closing galas, Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon and Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, a veritable cinematic tsunami is readying to deluge the capital.
The big hitters include Oliver Stone's Bush-burner W., Michael Winterbottom's Genova, the acclaimed animated documentary Waltz With Bashir, Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona, Rian Johnston's Brick follow-up The Brothers Bloom, parts one and two of Steven Soderbergh's revolutionary biopic Che, the family gala premiere The Secret Of Moonacre and the world premiere of Quantum Of Solace.
In addition to hosting the first screening of James Bond's 22nd official cinematic outing, the LFF will also host the first public screening of the movie immediately following the world premiere on October 29. A spectacular coup for the festival which will allow fans to see the flick a full two days before the official release date on October 31, tickets for this event will undoubtedly sell like hot cakes.
Bolstered by features, documentaries and shorts from 43 countries, LFF 2008 will run the gamut of everything from "pop music to prison life" says Hebron.
Guests confirmed to appear over the two-week festival run include the likes of Rachel Weisz, Steven Soderbergh, Charlie Kaufman, Danny Boyle, Michael Sheen, Eva Green, Peter O'Toole and Benicio Del Toro.
Announced on the same day that the controversial Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator was booted up in an effort to discover the truth behind dark matter, BRI Director Amanda Nevill summed up the appeal of the festival. "All the best things happen in the dark and that's all that matters."
The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival runs from October 15-30. For the complete line-up and information on how to get tickets, click here and remember to keep checking in on Empire Online for all the latest festival news and reports.