Family Guide to the London Film Festival
The BFI London Film Festival begins next month, with the premieres of hundreds of movies taking place in London cinemas between 5th and 16th October. There are numerous unmissable ‘grown up’ films (including the critically acclaimed La La Land, with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals) and you can find out more about the entire programme (and book tickets) by visiting the festival website: www.bfi.org.uk/lff.
And here is our pick of just some of the movies that will appeal to kids and families that are in the festival this year – if you’re in London, they are well worth booking tickets for:
A Monster Calls
Thursday 6th October 7.15pm; Friday 7th October 11.30am; Tuesday 11 October 6.15pm
A fantasy drama based on the Patrick Ness book about a 12-year-old boy guided by a mysterious yew tree (voiced by Liam Neeson) through a traumatic time in his life.
Queen Of Katwe
Sunday 9th October 6.30pm; Monday 10th October 11.30am; Wednesday 12th October 6.15pm
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo star in this true story of young Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (the stunning Madina Nalwanga).
Trolls
Saturday 8th October 2.30pm.
Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick are among the stars providing voices for this animated tale of those brightly coloured tiny creatures named Trolls.
Your Name
Friday 14th October 6pm; Saturday 15th October 12pm, Sunday 16th October 6.15pm
A Japanese animated tale of two teens whose lives are change when the first visible comet for 1000 years approaches Japan.
My Life As A Courgette
Saturday 8th October 6pm; Sunday 9th October 3.30pm
A Swiss/French animated story of a boy named Courgette who finds himself in an orphanage following the death of his mother. Note that this film has quite adult themes so is suitable for older children.
Magnus
Monday 10th October 9pm; Tuesday 11th October 8.50pm
Another chess movie (see Queen Of Katwe, above) but this is a documentary about child prodigy Magnus Carlsen, the youngest player to be ranked number one.
Phantom Boy
Saturday 15th October 12.45pm
While very ill, young Leo discovers he has a superpower – he can leave his body and pass through walls like a ghost – in this French/Belgian animation.
Rock Dog
Saturday 8th October 12.30pm; Sunday 16th October 12.30pm
Bodi has trained to be a warrior dog but deep down wants to be a rock star in this animation based on the graphic novel Tibetan Rock Dog.