The British Film Festival returned and brought with it a flurry of A-listers — both recognisable faces from London’s scene and some big hitting international guests.
The festival, which was first held October 1957, began this year on October 5 with the world premiere of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.
Lashana Lynch, the English actress from No Time to Die and The Woman King, has taken on the role of Miss Honey and was an explosion of coloured sequins in her diamond pattern gown. She joined Emma Thompson, who plays Miss Trunchbull in the film, who flirted with Country-Western attire in her fringed white jacket, arm-in-arm with husband Greg Wise.
The stakes were raised by a Teddy Boy Tilda Swinton on October 6, who swanned into her The Eternal Daughter UK premiere in a Seventies-style, pale blue suit designed by Bella Freud – the fashion designer daughter of artist Lucian Freud. Her black ribbon tie added asymmetric flair, while immaculately curled locks hit the right note of David Bowie.
On October 7, all eyes turned to Florence Pugh. The actor, currently lauded for her role in Don’t Worry Darling alongside Harry Styles, plays the lead in the new period drama The.’ And she was, undeniably, the moment as she billowed up her coral, feather trimmed gown from Valentino couture.
If Pugh currently reigns as the doyenne of the red carpet, Timothée Chalamet is her male counterpart. The British Vogue cover star cut quite the sophisticated figure in his ivory asymmetric jacket and cigarette trousers by Alexander McQueen for Saturday night’s Bones & All premiere, alongside his Canadian co-star Taylor Russell.
Russell made a splash in the fashion world after sporting a Balenciaga couture look for Venice Film Festival this September and maintained her sartorial status in a corseted Schiaparelli number complete with a matador-style cropped jacket and wide brimmed hat last weekend. Her name is certainly one to remember.
On the same night, Jennifer Lawrence was in London for the European premiere of her new film Causeway. While she shied away from the bigger risks taken by some at the festival so far, she was timeless in a pearl embellished, black netted cape and sleeveless dress by indie Milanese label Del Core.
And on Wednesday October 12, Olivia Colman took to the carpet to promote her latest drama ‘Empire of Light’ alongside Colin Firth and his girlfriend Maggie Cohn. Colman turned to the Kate Middleton approved designer Jenny Packham for her crystal embellished, caped gown as she waved to fans waiting for a glimpse.
Though proceedings started strong, the festival’s ending on Sunday 16 was a sight to behold. First came the fun, with Emma Corrin attending the European Premiere of their film “My Policeman” in a goldfish-in-a-bag dress, a highlight look from designer JW Anderson’s SS23 collection shown in Soho this September.
While Corrin’s co-star, Harry Styles, was a disappointing no-show, the BFI London Film Festival’s closing night gala for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” was a sure antedote. Celebrating the sequal to Netflix’s 2019 “Knives Out” mystery, it’s stars came out in force. Lead Daniel Craig was suave in a classic, peaked lapel navy tuxedo and smart bow-tie, as he joined a stament making Janelle Monáe in a red sheer and ruffled sculputral gown by US designer Christian Siriano.
Kate Hudson, who is also in the film, was the picture of Hollywood glamour in a panneled, strappy slip dress and full length faux fur coat by Saint Laurent worth £12,995 while singer Grace Jones was a red carpet surpise, and rocked the room in a blue disc fringed cap by Philip Treacy.
