Muddy Stilettos


<p>Between the gala screenings, the rising stars and the inevitable awards chat, the <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BFI London Film Festival</a> (<strong>Wed 8 – Sun 19 Oct</strong>) is the film buff’s version of fashion week – and the 2025 edition is looking seriously sharp. We&#8217;re talking a triple helping of Josh O&#8217;Conner, a double dose of Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos reunited for more movie mayhem as well as some of the year&#8217;s most anticipated movies (did someone say <em>Hamnet</em>?). </p>



<p>Here’s your first look at the best in show (in our opinion) all screening at the festival ahead of their UK releases. Read on, take notes, and be ready to book. Tickets go on sale <strong>Tue 16 Sept</strong>.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery"><em>Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY trailer | BFI London Film Festival 2025 – 8-19 October" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ORxj5yph81Q?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Opening proceedings is none other than contemporary cinema’s most charming detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, Southern drawl intact), who is back on the case in Rian Johnson’s latest razor-sharp whodunnit. Little is known about the plot so far but we&#8217;re expecting murder, another seriously star-studded ensemble (hello Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack <em>and </em>Andrew Scott), and enough eyebrow-raising red herrings to keep even the savviest sleuths guessing. If past <em>Knives Out</em>&nbsp;films are anything to go by, this will be wickedly clever, wildly stylish, and enormous fun.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Wed 8, Thu 9 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Wed 26 Nov</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hamnet"><em>Hamnet</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="HAMNET - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters Thanksgiving" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E2xtmPkuksA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>It’s already taken the literary world and the West End by storm &#8211; now<strong>&nbsp;<em>Hamnet</em></strong>, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, is getting the full Hollywood treatment, and premiering in the UK at the LFF. At the helm? Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao (<em>Nomadland</em>), with none other than Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes on producing duty. Paul Mescal stars as a fictionalised young Shakespeare, with Jessie Buckley as his wife Agnes. The story charts the couple’s early relationship, the loss of their only son Hamnet, and the grief that would go on to shape some of Shakespeare’s most famous work. Prepare for heartbreak *packs extra tissues* and serious awards buzz.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Sat 11, Mon 13 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 9 Jan 2026</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bugonia"><em>Bugonia</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="BUGONIA - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters October 24" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bd_5HcTujfc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Emma Stone reunites with director Yorgos Lanthimos for the fourth time in <strong><em>Bugonia</em>,&nbsp;</strong>a darkly comic sci-fi that’s every bit as strange as you&#8217;d hope. Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis are magnetic as two paranoid, conspiracy-obsessed brothers who kidnap a high-powered CEO (Stone), convinced she’s an alien plotting to annihilate humanity. Totally normal behaviour, obviously. Loosely based on Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 South Korean satire <em>Save the Green Planet!</em>, with lashings of Lanthimos weirdness, as the story spirals in unexpected &#8211; and at times shocking &#8211; directions.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Fri 10, Sat 11 and Fri 17 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Sun 7 Nov</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rental-family"><em>Rental Family</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="RENTAL FAMILY | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n0pqP6ClcE8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>We’re fully here for the Brendan Fraser-aissance &#8211; and his latest role is another quietly powerful turn. Set in contemporary Tokyo,&nbsp;<em><strong>Rental Family</strong></em>&nbsp;follows a struggling American actor who stumbles into an unexpected job: working for a &#8220;rental family&#8221; agency, playing everything from long-lost uncles to absent fathers for clients in need of emotional connection. As his roles begin to blur with reality, he finds unexpected intimacy, purpose, and meaning in the most unlikely places. Directed by HIKARI (<em>37 Seconds</em>), this is a tender, beautifully observed exploration of belonging, and one of Fraser’s most moving performances yet.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Thursday 16, Fri 17 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 9 Jan 2026</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-springsteen-deliver-me-from-nowhere"><em>Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere | Official Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oQXdM3J33No?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>From&nbsp;<em>The Bear</em>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<em>The Boss</em>, Jeremy Allen White trades kitchen chaos for musical legend in this hotly anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic &#8211; and yes, he sings. Directed by Scott Cooper and based on Warren Zanes’ book,&nbsp;<em><strong>Deliver Me From Nowhere</strong></em>&nbsp;charts the making of&nbsp;<em>Nebraska</em>, the raw, haunting sixth album that redefined Springsteen’s sound. With Bruce himself and longtime manager Jon Landau on board, expect authenticity in spades. Jeremy Strong, Odessa Young, Paul Walter Hauser and Stephen Graham round out a heavyweight cast, but it’s Allen White’s transformation that has everyone talking (including Springsteen, who’s given his seal of approval). Double denim and bandanas at the ready!</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Wed 15, Thu 16 and Sat 18 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 24 Oct</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-history-of-sound"><em>The History of Sound</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="THE HISTORY OF SOUND | Official Trailer | In Theaters September 12" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YfEYUoefwb8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p><strong><em>The History of Sound</em></strong> is a gorgeously shot, slow-burning romance from<em> Living </em>director Oliver Hermanus, starring the ever-swoonable Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. They play Lionel and David, two music-obsessed students who meet at the Boston Conservatory before reuniting years later, post-WWI, to travel across America recording folk songs. What starts as a passion project soon becomes a life-changing love story &#8211; intimate, melancholic, and carried by sizzling chemistry between its leads. And just like that, we&#8217;re <em>obsessed</em>. </p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Sat 19 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 23 Jan 2026</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-die-my-love"><em>Die My Love</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Die My Love - Official Teaser Trailer" width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/npLh2iND0WA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson sharing the screen? Enough said! In<strong>&nbsp;<em>Die My Love</em></strong>, director Lynne Ramsay (<em>We Need to Talk About Kevin</em>) delivers a bold, visually arresting deep-dive into postpartum psychosis, with Lawrence at her fearless best. Opposite a quietly intense Pattinson, she unravels in a role that’s raw, haunting, and impossible to look away from. Ramsay’s signature psychological edge meets powerhouse performances in this gripping exploration of motherhood, identity, and the thin line between reality and delusion. Not one for the faint-hearted, but absolutely unforgettable.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Fri 17, Sat 18 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 14 Nov</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blue-moon"><em>Blue Moon</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="BLUE MOON | Official Trailer (2025)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qo7gRHip0lI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Musical theatre fans, this one’s for you. <strong><em>Blue Moon</em></strong> whisks us back to 1943 on the opening night of <em>Oklahoma!</em>, a milestone moment for Broadway, but not everyone is celebrating. As Richard Rodgers basks in the show’s triumph, his former writing partner Lorenz Hart sits alone at the bar, drowning in regret and a sense of fading relevance. Directed by Richard Linklater and written by Robert Kaplow, this beautifully melancholic character study stars Ethan Hawke as the brilliant, self-destructive Hart, with a knockout supporting cast including Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott. </p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Thu 16, Fri 17 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 14 Nov</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sentimental-value"><em>Sentimental Value</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="SENTIMENTAL VALUE Official Trailer (2025) Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, Drama Movie HD" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HeyiJndMQuc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Already being hailed as <em>the</em> film of the year, and featuring a career-defining turn from Stellan Skarsgård, <strong><em>Sentimental Value</em></strong> is a sharp scripted, emotionally layered drama, with serious bite. Sisters Nora and Agnes are reluctantly reunited with their estranged, and still wildly charismatic, father Gustav (Skarsgård), a once-legendary director staging a comeback. When he offers Nora, a respected stage actress, the lead in his new film, it seems like a peace offering… until she turns it down and the role mysteriously lands in the lap of a fresh-faced Hollywood starlet (Elle Fanning). Cue family tensions, bruised egos and a culture clash of theatrical proportions. Smart, spiky and beautifully acted, this one has awards written all over it.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Sun 12, Tue 14 and Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release Fri 26 Dec</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-100-nights-of-hero"><em>100 Nights of Hero</em></h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="100 Nights of Hero - Teaser Trailer | HD | Independent Film Company" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3SgIeH30Z4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>And closing out the festival in style is <strong><em>100 Nights of Hero</em></strong>, a bold and wildly inventive feminist fairytale from rising talent Julia Jackman. Based on Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel, the film stars Emma Corrin as Hero, a sharp-witted maid who spins nightly tales of rebellious women to protect her mistress, Cherry (Maika Monroe), from the sinister advances of a would-be suitor. With a cast that also includes Nicholas Galitzine, Felicity Jones, Richard E. Grant and Charli XCX, this witty, visually lush satire turns classic folklore on its head and firmly cements Jackman as one of the UK’s most exciting new voices in cinema.</p>



<p><strong><em>Screening Sun 19 Oct</em></strong></p>



<p><strong>Official release TBC</strong></p>



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<p><strong><em>To see what else is happening at BFI London Film Festival, check the full schedule <a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=films-events&amp;BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=&amp;menu_id=D40EEDE4-6F52-40C5-A810-DA0398566ECB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </em></strong></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-want-to-read-more">WANT TO READ MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/raindance-festival-indie-films-everyone-will-be-talking-about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">13 indie films everyone will be talking about</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/must-watch-films-in-cinemas-september/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">8 must-watch movies hitting cinemas this September</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/first-look-emerald-fennell-wuthering-heights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">First look: Emerald Fennell’s steamy new adaptation of Wuthering Heights</a></li>
</ul>


Reel deal! The must-see movies premiering at BFI London Film Festival

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