Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn to open LFF

The 67th BFI London Film Festival (4-15 October) in partnership with American Express announces that this year’s Opening Night Gala will be Saltburn, directed, produced and written by Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell.

Saltburn opens Kristy Matheson’s first festival in her new role as BFI Festivals Director, and stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan. The film, which is a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire, will receive its International Premiere on Wednesday 4 October at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Amazon Studios and MGM will release the MRC and LuckyChap Entertainment-produced film exclusively in cinemas on 24 November. There will also be simultaneous preview screenings of the film taking place at multiple cinemas across the UK.

Set in the mid-2000s and shot in a variety of locations around the UK, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is struggling to find his place at Oxford University and finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.

Director/Producer/Writer of Saltburn, Emerald Fennell, said: “I’m honoured that our film is able to open this year’s BFI London Film Festival. It is a festival that inspired me so much growing up, one that I followed excitedly from my bedroom on the other side of London. It feels extra-special that Saltburn, this very British tale of excess, is able to make its international debut at the wonderful BFI.”

Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “As soon as the credits rolled on Saltburn it was clear we’d met our Opening Night film. Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell returns with an expertly crafted and exhilarating thrill ride of a film that showcases an enormous depth of UK talents in front of and behind the camera. With its exceptional performances, delicious plot twists and a soundtrack of early 21st century pop bangers; this hugely ambitious film immediately stole our hearts and we can’t wait to share it with audiences in London and across the UK this October.”

The film is an Amazon Studios and MGM production, along with MRC and LuckyChap Entertainment. Amazon Studios and MGM will release Saltburn in cinemas on 24 November.

The 67th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 4 October – Sunday 15 October, 2023. The BFI LFF Press Launch will take place on Thursday 31 August, 2023.