The 45 (Regus) London Film Festival will kick off with the star studded Gosford Park by the director every actor wants to work with, Robert Altman. Iain Softley's intense psychological drama, K-Pax will close the fest.
Altman and Gosford Park star Emily Watson were in attendance for the official opening of the festival in the West End on Wednesday and the consensus as people departed was that this year's is one of the best in-ups in some time.
Gosford Park certainly has people wetting their lips and with a glance at the cast one can see why. To name only a few who clamoured to be involved in the opulent 1930's murder mystery: Eileen Atkins, Stephen Fry, Charles Dance, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Richard E Grant, Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Northam, Kristin Scott Thomas…the list just keeps going.
K-Pax is equally anticipated with Kevin Spacey apparently superb opposite Jeff Bridges in this deep and often disturbing Sci-fi flick. The rest of the line up speaks volumes, Monsoon Wedding and The Warrior are must sees, and the Guardian interviews have plenty of depth with the likes of Shekhar Kapur, John Lasseter, Isabelle Huppert, Peter Fonda, Martin Sheen and Ed Harris.
Adrian Wooton, director of the LFF said at the opening, "Considering the increasingly competitive nature of the international film festival environment, securing major films such as these is a tribute to the growing stature of the Regus London Film Festival."
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Altman and Gosford Park star Emily Watson were in attendance for the official opening of the festival in the West End on Wednesday and the consensus as people departed was that this year's is one of the best in-ups in some time.