Yahoo News Newcastle to host London Film Festival screenings with programme of premieres and gala launch event
Local film fans can enjoy the action of London Film Festival without budging from Newcastle this October thanks to a partnership between the BFI and Tyneside Cinema.
The British Film Institute is joining up with select venues around the UK to ensure a wider audience can share in its annual event and the city centre's independent cinema is one of those set to host special screenings during its October 9-20 run. Among them will be the opening night world premiere of Oscar-winning director Sir Steve McQueen's new film Blitz.
And, with this set to be the first time Blitz is screened anywhere outside of the capital, the Tyneside Cinema is planning to celebrate the occasion in style with a gala event - and including a flavour of the North East. The October 9 evening will begin with a Champagne reception, hosted by Durham-based family business Lanchester Wines, and canapes and oysters by Tynemouth favourite Riley’s Fish Shack.
Then the screening of Blitz will follow and the new film by 12 Years A Slave director McQueen will tell the wartime story of a young boy's determination to avoid evacuation to the countryside and reunite instead with his family in London - and musician Paul Weller has a role in it as the grandfather. The drama is just one of what the BFI refers to as an "incredible selection of titles" to be having regional screenings - ahead of their general release - during what will be the 68th London Film Festival.
Tyneside Cinema will also screen 12 more direct from the festival and these others, covering a wide range, include Bird by Oscar winner Andrea Arnold and starring Saltburn's Barry Keoghan; Edward Berger's papal thriller Conclave with Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, and Simon Otto's animated festive fantasy That Christmas. Nic Greenan, chief executive officer of the cinema, said: "The London Film Festival is one of the most important events in the cinema calendar and is chosen by a host of top directors to premiere their latest films.
“The Tyneside is the only venue in the North East where you can get a first glimpse of these movies so we wanted to start off the season with a real regional flavour. " Nic will give an introduction on the festival season launch night, ahead of the Blitz screening at 6.40pm, and she added of the night: "We’re delighted to be linking up with Riley’s Fish Shack and Lanchester Wines who will be providing some truly delicious treats for attendees at the Blitz screening and we can't wait to get the season started.”
The other new films to be screened will be Piece by Piece; Anora; Endurance; Joy; Nightbitch; A Real Pain; The Wild Robot; All We Imagine as Light and I'm Still Here. As well as having the opportunity to view these movies for the first time, the Tyneside's cinemagoers will be able to hear direct from film critics about their picks for the upcoming awards season.
For more information and tickets for the 13 BFI London Film Festival screenings, including the October 9 launch event, see here.
