52nd London Film Festival announces record number of world premiers

Wednesday 10 September: The programme for The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival (15-30 Oct, 2008), announced today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, includes a record number of world and international premieres with a total of 189 features and 108 shorts screening alongside a stellar line-up of special events and expected guests. After a long gap, Indian maestro Shyam Benegal comes back with his latest film WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR.

Benegal's film revolves about a guy who is one of the few educated young men from Sajjanpur, and who makes his living by writing letters. His ability to write persuasive letters makes him extremely popular with largely the illiterate population of his town. The film is a delightful satirical take on a contemporary Indian village.

London Film Festival will feature 8 films from South Asia.

This year’s programme includes EIGHT films from BANGLADESH, INDIA AND PAKISTAN. This is part of a worldwide selection of over 180 feature films and over 100 shorts from more than 40 countries. The Festival runs from October 15 –October 30.

Bangladeshi FEATURES:
LAST THAKUR, THE: Dir Sadik Ahmed

Indian FEATURES:
COLOURS OF PASSION: Dir, Ketan Mehta

FIRAAQ: Dir, Nandita Das

QUICK GUN MURUGAN (AKA FAST GUN MURUGAN): Dir, Shashank Ghosh

TAHAAN - A BOY WITH A GRENADE: Dir, Santosh Sivan

WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR: Dir, Shyam Benegal

Indian SHORTS:
MIDNIGHT LOST AND FOUND: Dir, Atul Sabharwal

Pakistani FEATURE:
RAMCHAND PAKISTANI: Dir, Mehreen Jabbar (Co-production with the USA)

Opening Night film, Ron Howard’s FROST/NIXON, is one of the Festival’s 15 world premieres and the Closing Night Gala is the European premiere of Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. An outstanding selection of new British films will world premiere at the Festival, including Nick Moran’s TELSTAR, Eran Creevy’s SHIFTY, and Gerald McMorrow’s FRANKLYN in addition to Shashank Ghosh’s QUICK GUN MURUGAN from India and Samir Habchi’s BEIRUT OPEN CITY from Lebanon.

The 12 international premieres at the Festival include SUGAR from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Ketan Mehta’s COLOURS OF PASSION and Nanette Burstein’s AMERICAN TEEN. Festival audiences will also have the chance to attend the first public screening of Marc Forster’s QUANTUM OF SOLACE, immediately following the film’s world premiere on 29 October.

Also hosting 20 European and 119 UK premieres, the Festival showcases new work from established and emerging filmmakers alongside feature film debuts by newly discovered directing talents.