PG Members Represented in Opening and Closing Films for the 55th BFI London Film Festival
01/09/2011Fernando Meirelles's 360 and Terence Davies' The Deep Blue Sea have been chosen to bookend this year's BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express, both of which have contributions from PG Members.
The European premiere of 360 will open on the festival on Wednesday 12th October and saw PG Members Jim Hajicosta - Production Accountant, Robert Seager -
1st Assistant Accountant, Benjamin Breen - 1st Assistant Accountant and Richard Henry - PG Accounts Trainee, all contributing to the success of the production.
Directed by Fernando Meirelles and with an original screenplay by acclaimed writer Peter Morgan,the film stars Rachel Weisz, Jude Law and Sir Anthony Hopkins in what the BFI describes as a "modern and stylish kaleidoscope of interconnected love and relationships" which links characters from different cities and countries. The film travels through Paris, London, Bratislava, Rio, Denver and Phoenix.
Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron said, "I'm delighted that 360 will be our opening night film, and very pleased to welcome back Fernando Meirelles and Peter Morgan to the festival. With its impeccable film making credentials and intriguing premise, 360 combines masterful visual story telling with a modern and moving narrative, helped by strong performances from a terrific ensemble cast."
Director Fernando Meirelles added, "The BFI London Film Festival is one of the best festivals in the world due to its selection of films and the number of theatres the films are shown in. I am very honoured 360, an intimate film that talks about our options in life, has been chosen to open the festival this year, and I want to thank Sandra Hebron for extending this prestigious invitation to me for a second time, following The Constant Gardener, which opened the festival in 2005."
It was also announced that the UK premiere of Terence Davies' The Deep Blue Sea will close out this years festival, which saw PG Members Maxine Stanley - Production Accountant and Justin Miller - Assistant Accountant on the production.
Set in post-war Britain, the feature is an adaptation of Terence Rattigan's classic play. Hester Collyer (Rachel Weisz) leads a privileged life in 1950s London as the beautiful wife of high court judge Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale). To the shock of those around her, she walks out of her marriage to move in with young ex-RAF pilot, Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston), with whom she has fallen passionately in love.
Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron commented, "It's a great pleasure to be able to close the festival with this exquisite new feature from one of our most cherished directors. Terence Davies is a filmmaker who the BFI has supported from the very beginnings of his career, and in Terence Rattigan's centenary year, this beautifully directed and acted film is the perfect closing night film."
Director Terence Davies stated: "As a British filmmaker, to get into the BFI London Film Festival at all is bliss - to get a Closing Night film is sheer heaven! The festival is now, rightly, seen as one of the major European and World Film Festivals; championing not only British but World cinema."
The full schedule for the 55th BFI London Film Festival will be announced on Wednesday 7th September 2011.