10 British Filmmakers Appearing at the BFI London Film Festival 2021
As the BFI celebrates the 64th London Film Festival, Spotlight's Charlie Gardiner takes a look at some of the notable British filmmakers whose work features amongst the 300+ films this year.
By Charlie Gardiner
Kenneth Branagh – ‘Belfast’
Starring Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Catriona Balfe and introducing Jude Hill, Kenneth Branagh writes and directs this semi-autobiographical drama set against the tortured backdrop of 1960’s Belfast during the Troubles.
Branagh isn’t new to the director’s chair with 23 directing credits to his name including Cinderella (2015) and Murder on the Orient Express (2017), but Belfast is his first entry to the London Film Festival, with the world premiere having taken place on Tuesday 12th October at the Royal Festival Hall.
Edgar Wright – ‘Last Night in Soho’
A self-acclaimed London Film Festival fan, Edgar Wright has often been seen heading into Gala screenings over the years, but this year it’s his turn to have one of his own films grace the screen at the country’s most prestigious film festival.
Last Night in Soho is a horror/thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie and Spotlight members Matt Smith, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps.
Joanna Hogg – ‘The Souvenir Part II’
Joanna Hogg’s first feature, Unrelated, was released at the London Film Festival back in 2007, since then she has gained a loyal fanbase and all but one of her films have been officially selected for LFF.
The Souvenir (2019) received critical acclaim on its release which led to many accolades including winning the London Film Critics Circle Award for Best British or Irish Film of the Year.
It’s sequel, The Souvenir Part II, stars Honor Swinton Byrne, Richard Ayoade and Joe Alwyn and is already receiving hugely positive reactions.
Sarah Smith – ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’
The only animated film to receive a Gala screening at this year’s London Film Festival, Ron’s Gone Wrong tells the story of a generation addicted to artificial intelligent devices that act as their best friends. Barney is desperate for his own but when his father buys him a damaged one named Ron, he must learn to live with him despite his defects.
Sarah Smith presents this charming, animated feature after the critical success of her previous animated works including Arthur Christmas (2011), Ron’s Gone Wrong’s stellar cast includes Jack Dylan Grazer, Olivia Colman, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helm.
Clio Barnard – ‘Ali & Ava’
Ali & Ava is Clio Barnard’s third visit to the London Film Festival after her directorial debut, The Selfish Giant (2013), and second feature, Dark River (2017), both featured in the official selection of their respective years.
Following in the tradition of her previous work, Ali & Ava is a home-grown story about an unlikely friendship set against the industrial backdrop of Bradford. Starring Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, its premiere took place at The Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 14th October.
Terence Davies – ‘Benediction’
A highly celebrated British filmmaker, Terence Davies brings his latest film Benediction to the London Film Festival. Set in post-World War 1 London and telling the story of poet Siegfried Sassoon, Benediction deals with powerful subjects such as post traumatic stress disorder, discrimination and the general everyday struggles of young men accepting their sexuality in an unforgiving time.
Starring Jack Lowden, Jeremy Irvine and Kate Phillips, Benediction is full of beaming British talent.
Craig Roberts – ‘The Phantom of the Open’
Craig Roberts is more commonly known for his performance work; his breakout role was in Submarine (2010) when he was just 19. This year we see him take his seat in the director’s chair for The Phantom of the Open, starring BAFTA and Academy Award winner Mark Rylance alongside Sally Hawkins and Rhys Ifans. The Phantom of the Open tells the true story of golfer Maurice Flitcroft who shot to fame for being the worst professional golfer of all time.
Full of endearing performances from the entire cast, The Phantom of the Open has received highly positive reactions and applause from audiences throughout the festival. Craig Roberts is, without a doubt, a director to look out for in the future.
Andrew Gaynord – ‘All My Friends Hate Me’
All My Friends Hate Me is Andrew Gaynord’s feature length debut, bringing together a story of university friends reuniting for a birthday celebration like no other. When birthday boy Pete finds himself suffering with paranoia, whilst under the impression that all his old friends are against him, things aren’t as they seem, and he must prepare himself for the worst.
After a successful start to his career in television, Gaynord has made the transition over to feature film with the release of All My Friends Hate Me at this year’s London Film Festival. Starring Tom Stourton, Graham Dickson and Dustin Demri-Burns (among others), it had its world premiere at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and received rave reviews.
Philip Barantini – ‘Boiling Point’
With a large number of acting credits to his name, Philip Barantini is also now a celebrated director. The release of his second feature Boiling Point has received hugely positive reactions from its screenings at this year’s London Film Festival.
Starring Stephen Graham and Vinette Robinson, Boiling Point showcases the pressure of working in a busy kitchen on the busiest day of the year. It is Barantini’s feature length adaptation of the short film of the same name from 2019, of which Stephen Graham also stars.
Michael Pearce – ‘Encounter’
After the huge success of his 2017 feature Beast, BAFTA award winner Michael Pearce is back at the London Film Festival this year with his latest film Encounter. Which follows the story of two brothers and their father who are trying to survive an alien invasion, starring LFF favourite Riz Ahmed and Hollywood star Octavia Spencer. Encounter is one of the films that had its screenings at Spotlight’s neighbours, the Prince Charles Cinema.
It’s safe to say that the British talent has been huge at this year’s BFI London Film Festival, and as always, the international talent has been outstanding too. Keep an eye out for other articles related to the London Film Festival!
Charlie works at Spotlight in the Membership Support team. Alongside work, she is a film critic for a number of outlets including The Film Magazine, CinemaSavvy and Filmhounds, all of which are featured on her blog. In addition to these ventures, she is currently studying for a Masters in Film and On Screen Media at Birkbeck University.
Main Photo by KAL VISUALS on Unsplash
