October 8, 2024

The BFI London Film Festival Opens!

The 2024 BFI London Film Festival opens today with hundreds of films, documentaries and short films being shown from across the world. The British Society of Cinematographers is delighted to say that our members work is featured among the festival screenings.

In the Gala Section, four of the films being showcased were shot by society members. We Live In Time starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh arrives after wowing audiences in Toronto. The film is directed by John Crowley and shot by Stuart Bentley BSC and tells the story of Almut and Tobias, who are brought together by a surprise encounter that changes their lives. Fabrizio Sciarra Assoc BSC ACO also worked on the film as Steadicam operator: dailies. 

Joy tells the story of a young nurse, a visionary scientist and an innovative surgeon who face opposition from the church, state, media and medical establishment, in their pursuit of the world's first 'test tube baby', Louise Joy Brown. The film is directed by Ben Taylor and shot by Jamie Cairney BSC.

Bird, the latest film from Oscar-winning Director, Andrea Arnold finally arrives in the UK after premiering at Cannes. The film is shot by Robbie Ryan BSC ISC and tells the story of Bailey who lives with her brother Hunter and her father Bug. Bug doesn't have much time to devote to them and so Bailey looks for attention and adventure elsewhere.

Finally Hard Truths, the latest film from Mike Leigh is also in the Gala section. The film is shot by Mike's longtime collaborator, Dick Pope BSC with Camera Operator Lucy Bristow Assoc BSC and tells the story of Pansy, a woman tormented by anger and depression, hypersensitive to the slightest possible offence and ever ready to fly off the handle. This heartfelt film is both uncompromising yet sensitive. 

The documentary One To One: John & Yoko is screening at the BFI London Film Festival, directed by Kevin Macdonald and with original footage shot by David Katznelson BSC DFF. Set in 1972 New York, this documentary explores John and Yoko's world amid a turbulent era. Centered on the One to One charity concert for special needs children, it features unseen archives, home movies, and restored footage. The Extraordinary Miss Flower is an amazing documentary which uncovers Geraldine Flower's collection of love letters, suggesting a potential double life as a spy... This film directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard features the Cinematography of Erik Wilson BSC.

Witches examines the relationship between cinematic portrayals of witches and postpartum depression, utilising film history footage alongside personal testimony. This powerful documentary is directed by Elizabeth Sankey and shot by Chloe Thomson BSC.

In the short film section we have two films shot by society members, The Awakening, is directed by Al Campbell and shot by Mattias Nyberg BSC. This clever short tells the story of a man who is intrigued by waking up daily with muddy feet, he decides to record himself sleeping... with nightmarish results. Karavidhe, shot by Tim Sidell BSC, is described as "An immigrant story with a piano and shellfish". The short tells the story of Dee, who after a day's work doesn't end as planned, finds a creative way of feeding his inexperienced colleague, and entertains them in the process.