The European Premiere Of Simon Stone’s Elsinore Is To Open The 70th BFI London Film Festival
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Carl Roberts 
Simon Stone’s Elsinore will kick off the 70th BFI London Film Festival as the opening night gala at the Southbank Royal Festival Hall.
The 70th BFI London Film Festival (7th-18th October) is excited to announce that this year’s Opening Night Gala will be the European premiere of STUDIOCANAL’S ELSINORE at the Southbank Center’s Royal Festival Hall on 7th October 2026. The cast plans to attend. Additionally, STUDIOCANAL will release the film in UK cinemas on 29 January 2027.
THE PREMISE
BAFTA-nominated Simon Stone (The Dig) directs ELSINORE, based on the life of Ian Charleson. It is written by BAFTA winner and Golden Globe nominee Stephen Beresford (Pride). ELISNORE is a powerful, deeply moving, and inspiring true story of the actor Ian Charleson, who faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London. This story shows the actor overcoming adversity to perform Hamlet. This presentation becomes particularly impactful for audiences. The reason is that the Royal Festival Hall is just a stone’s throw away from the National Theatre.
THE CAST
Starring BAFTA winner and multi-Golden Globe nominee Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers, Ripley, Pressure) and Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy winner and BFI Fellow Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Crown, The Lost Daughter). Moreover, Scott is also a producer on ELSINORE.
Further casting includes – Billie Piper (Wednesday, Scoop) reuniting with Simon Stone following her Laurence Olivier award-winning performance in Yerma at The Young Vic. Johnny Flynn (Ripley, Beast), Luke Thompson (Bridgerton, Transatlantic), BAFTA and Olivier winner Monica Dolan (Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, Days Of The Bagnold Summer), Olivier winner Juliet Stevenson (Reawakening, Truly Madly Deeply), Joe Locke (Heartstopper Forever, Agatha All Along), BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar (Ali & Ava, Sherwood), Matthew Beard (The Testament of Ann Lee, Vienna Blood), David Dawson (My Policeman, The Last Kingdom), Kadiff Kirwan (Slow Horses, This Is Going To Hurt), Dickie Beau (What It Feels Like For A Girl, Bohemian Rhapsody) and BAFTA winner Peter Mullan (I Swear, Ozark). For clarity, all these actors contribute to an impressive ensemble.
Andrea Occhipinti of Lucky Red (Il Divo, Everybody Knows) produces with Gabrielle Tana of Magnolia Mae Films (The Dig, Philomena), along with Pete Shilaimon and Mickey Liddell of LD Entertainment (Jackie, Anthropoid) and Stefano Massenzi and Carolyn Marks Blackwood.
Credit: Anthony Dickenson / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC. Still Courtesy of Studiocanal
SIMON STONE AND KRISTY MATHESON
Director of ELSINORE, Simon Stone, said:
“We couldn’t be prouder to be able to present this quintessentially London film on the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival. Ian Charleson had many of his greatest triumphs on the stages of the West End, at the Young Vic and of course the National, where he ended his short but dazzling career playing an unforgettable Hamlet. We are so lucky to have Andrew Scott, a London Hamlet himself, breathing delicate inspiring life into this beautiful story. I can’t wait to share it with the hometown audience!”
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, said:
“Anchored by Andrew Scott’s astounding central performance, few films will leave a lasting imprint on audiences this year quite like Elsinore. Stephen Beresford’s script offers a richly drawn world from which Director Simon Stone and his exceptional ensemble of some of the UK’s greatest talents vividly bring the story of renowned actor Ian Charleson to the screen. We could not be prouder to open the 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival with Elsinore, a film that centres community, resistance and the triumph of art.”
THE 70TH BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL
The 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival will take place in the following venues:
The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall returns as the gala venue
BFI Southbank is the home of the competition programme, Screen Talks, and LFF for Free events
The UK’s biggest screen, BFI IMAX, will host LFF screenings
Four partner cinemas in London’s West End include Curzon Soho, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Prince Charles Cinema, and Vue West End
Ten festival venues across the UK include Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Chapter in Cardiff, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME in Manchester, MAC in Birmingham, Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, Filmhouse in Edinburgh, and Watershed in Bristol
Press and industry screenings and the LFF Industry Forum take place at Picturehouse Central
In addition to UK-wide screenings at the Festival venues, audiences will also be able to explore LFF programmes past and present with a special collection of films on BFI Player.
The 70th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October 2026. The full festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 2 September. Tickets go on general sale from 17 September (BFI Members book early).
STUDIOCANAL releases ELSINORE in UK cinemas on 29 January 2027. Focus Features has acquired ELSINORE for the US to release in select theatres on 20 November 2026.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
