Women in focus at London Film Festival

The London Film Festival opened across the city yesterday, putting the focus on the role of women in film this year.

Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter were the stars on the red carpet for the gala screening of period drama “Suffragette”.

Some 240 feature films from 72 countries will screen over 12 days, across 16 venues.

Festival director Clare Stewart declared the 2015 programme as “the year of the strong woman”.

“I'm thrilled that the opening night film has enabled us to draw attention for what it means for women to be working behind the camera, as well as stoke debate around strong roles for women and girls in front of the camera,” Stewart told the BBC.

Stewart said the festival's theme coincided with “an extraordinary year” in terms of the depth and range of roles for women.

Among the strong female roles at the festival are two played by Cate Blanchett. In “Truth”, which also stars Robert Redford, she plays CBS journalist and 60 Minutes producer Mary Mapes, who risked her career to find the 'truth' and expose a story on US President George W Bush. Meanwhile, set in 1950s Manhattan, “Carol” sees Blanchett play a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who falls for a younger woman, played by Rooney Mara.

With female roles in the film industry under such scrutiny, the LFF has partnered with Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis to hold a global symposium on gender in media.

The LFF programme features 46 female directors in the features category.

The festival will close on October 18 with Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs biopic, starring Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet.

Other films include the UK premiere of crime drama “Black Mass”, starring Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch. “The Lady in the Van” starring Dame Maggie Smith as an elderly woman who lives on writer Alan Bennett's driveway, will have its European premiere. “Trumbo”, with Bryan Cranston and Dame Helen Mirren, Ben Wheatley's “High-Rise”, starring Tom Hiddleston, “The Program”, Stephen Frears' film about disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, and sci-fi romantic thriller “The Lobster”, starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz – are also on the bill.

Netflix's “Beasts of No Nation”, starring Idris Elba as an African warlord, is among the films in official competition, as is “Tangerine” - a film about two transgender sex workers on the streets of Los Angeles which was shot on iPhones.

Source: BBC