London Film Festival update

David Cronenberg's 'Eastern Promises' will open the LFF, while today it was announced that Wes Anderson's 'The Darjeeling Limited' is to close it

The new film from David Cronenberg will open the London Film Festival, it was announced today. 'Eastern Promises' – a London-set crime thriller – will be the curtain-raiser to the 51st LFF, which kicks off on Wednesday, October 17. Written by Steven Knight ('Dirty Pretty Things'), the plot revolves around Nikolai, a dangerous criminal with ties to one of London’s most notorious Russian crime families. When his work brings him into contact with Anna, an innocent midwife, a harrowing chain of violence, deceit, murder and retribution is set in motion.

The film reunites Cronenberg with his 'History of Violence' star Viggo Mortensen, and the director had this to say on the subject: ‘I’m thrilled to be returning to the scene of the crime. "Eastern Promises" is the first film I’ve ever shot entirely away from my home in Canada, and it makes perfect sense that it is set in London, home of so many of my most potent film influences. I can’t wait to be there!’

UPDATE: Wes Anderson's 'The Darjeeling Limited' will close the London Film Festival on November 13. Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, the film tells the tale of three brothers setting off on a train journey across India to find themselves and bond with each other. Their collective spiritual exploration soon goes off the rails however, leaving them stranded alone in the middle of the desert with 11 suitcases, a printer and a laminating machine, leading to a new and entirely unplanned journey.

'Wes Anderson and his knockout cast are at their sparkling best in "The Darjeeling Limited"' comments LFF artistic director Sandra Hebron. 'We're very excited to be closing our festival with this original and hugely enjoyable film from one of our favourite auteurs.'

The Times BFI London Film Festival runs from October 17 – November 1, and the full programme will be announced on September 13.

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