London Film Festival: Days six to 12

More gossip from the 51st edition of the fest.

by Paul Griffiths

Day 7: Tuesday 23rd

(Absolutely nothing happened in all of London today. And nobody said anything to anyone. At all.)

Day 8: Wednesday 24th

At the world premiere of writer-director Joanna Hogg’s excellent debut Unrelated, focusing on a childless woman trying to deal with a troubled marriage and the menopause, a lady asks her companion how his day has been: “Arrgh! Locked horns with this other partner today. She’s this old, really bitter political woman. Political. Pisses me off! Interviewing for another secretary as well. I interviewed five women, complete waste of time.”

Pause.

“I just don’t want to get involved with the politics. It’s a complete fucking waste of time.”

There is no reply.

Day 8: Thursday 25th

Overheard: “Yeah, I’ve seen Death Proof. He can do boy talk, but he can’t do girl talk so well.”

Colin Firth emerges from the screening of Into The Wild, spotted by two girls and a boy.

Girl 1: “Hey look, there’s someone famous.”

Boy: “What?

Girl 2: “Who is it?”

Girl 1: “It’s …”

Boy: “Hey. I’m famous!”

Girl 2: You are, you’re more famous than him.”

Boy: “I am.”

Girl 1: “Colin. It’s Colin somebody. Oh, what’s his name? Colin …”

Girl 2: “McCavoy…?”

Girl 1: “Gawd. That’s my first famous person!”

Day 9: Friday 26th

Just before the screening of his new film Mister Lonely, Harmony Korine invites his cast onto the stage. James Fox trips his way up the steps.

Just after Harmony Korine has applauded the cast of his new film on stage, James Fox falls clean off it.

Outside the screening of Mister Lonely two people in the crowd are carrying huge advertising boards, for “Comedy Tickets”.

Day 10 Saturday 27th

Phone call: “Well it just fucks me right off! … I’m a documentary filmmaker. I’m a documentary filmmaker. I'm ... What do you think I do? What do you think I do?? I’m making a film for the BBC, that MAKES me a documentary filmmaker!”

Day 12: Monday 29th

Laura Linney arrives at the premiere of The Savages. A chorus swells in the crowds:

“She’s in Love Actually” “Love Actually” “Love Actually?” “Love Actually” “er… Love Actually” “LOVE ACTUALLY!!” “Love Actually” “Love. Actually” “Love Actually” “Love, Actually” “Love Actually” “Love Actually” “Lovactually” “Love Actually” “Love Actually and … and … Congo!”

Day 13: Tuesday 30th

Director Asif Kapadia describes filming his Arctic tundra-set Far North in temperatures of minus 40 degrees plus wind chill: “It was pretty cold.”

Share this with others on...
News

Flipping the script Ghasideh Golmakani on using absurdist comedy to tackle misogyny in Head To Head

Spotlight on forgotten history Miwa Nishikawa on telling the story of post-war street orphans in Children Untold

A compulsion for cinema Thomas Bond on the secret of being a producer, the value of flaws, and Imposters

Streaming spotlight: off with their heads! Hold onto your noggin as we reflect on characters who have lost theirs entirely

'This has to be the beginning of a conversation' Peter Brunner, Caleb Landry Jones and other cast members on the social impact of Down The Arm Of God

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the Toronto International Film Festival.



We're looking forward to Fantastic Fest, San Sebastian and Beyond Fest.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Venice Film Festival, Frightfest, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Muslim International Film Festival and Docs Ireland.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Venice announces winners


LFF Full programme announced


Venice Giornate degli Autori awards announce


Festival Scope Venice Sala Web offers chance to stream shorts for free


San Sebastian Naomi Watts to receive Donostia Award