“Blitz” by Steve McQueen to open the London Film Festival

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Steve McQueen to present his latest feature film Blitz, an exploration of London during the Second World War, on the opening night of this year’s London Film Festival. The picture will have its world premiere.

Directed, produced and written by McQueen, the film follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy through World War II London until his mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the countryside English. The synopsis reads: George, defiant and determined to return to Rita and her grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, sets out on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a A distraught Rita searches for her missing son. Blitz marks McQueen’s first exclusive screenwriting credit for a feature film.

The film stars Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan, with Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, CJ Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman and Sally Messham rounding out the cast.

McQueen’s Lammas Park is producing alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer for New Regency, with producers Anita Overland and Adam Somner.

The premiere will take place on Wednesday 9 October at the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre with simultaneous screenings across the UK. The evening will mark McQueen’s return to the opening night of the LFF. He has opened the festival twice before with Widows in 2018 and Mangrove in 2020.

“Blitz is a film about Londoners. It pays homage to the spirit of what Londoners endured during the Blitz, but also explores the true representation of the people of London, while telling the story of a working-class family desperate to be reunited in times of war. , McQueen said. this afternoon. “I couldn’t be more delighted that the BFI London Film Festival has invited us to open this year’s festival and celebrate the world premiere of Blitz in my city.”

Kristy Matheson, Director of the BFI London Film Festival, added: “Blitz is a film of incredible scale. Steve McQueen infuses the film with nuance at every turn; the depth of character and texture of the city are unmatched and give this subject a completely new feel. It is a stunning production that will leave audiences in awe of the director, his cast and his creative collaborators. We are honoured to share this film with audiences in London and across the UK and can’t think of a better way to open the BFI London Film Festival 2024.”

Blitz will premiere in select theaters on November 1 before streaming worldwide on Apple TV+ on November 22.

The London Film Festival will take place from October 9 to 20.