Steve Mcqueen’s ‘Widows’ Confirmed To Open 2018 BFI London Film Festival

An honour in recent years reserved for films such as Paul Greengrass’ Captain Phillips, Sarah Gavron’s ‘Suffragette’ and Andy Serkis’ ‘Breathe’.

This year it is the latest heavyweight offering from 12 Years A Slave and Shame director Steve Mcqueen who will kick off the 62nd BFI London Film Festival, with news today that ‘Widows’ will be the Opening Night Gala on Wednesday 10th October.

A story Mcqueen co-wrote with Gone Girl’s Gillian Flynn and boasts a star-studded ensemble including Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo and Daniel Kaluuya. ‘Widows’ is an emotionally-charged thriller set in Chicago, with four women left with a debt accumulated by their dead husbands criminal activities, who end up taking matters into their own hands.

Mcqueen had this to say about the international premiere…

‘I am absolutely delighted that Widows will be opening this year’s BFI London Film Festival. Watching the UK TV version of Lynda La Plante’s original thriller as a teenager in the 80’s had a major impact on me and so it feels very special to be sharing this film with a UK audience’. 

The film is officially released in the UK on 9th November, with the full line-up for the BFI London Film Festival 2018 announced on Thursday 30th August.