Another year, another top class announcement from the BFI London Film Festival team as the 63rd BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express, have announced that this year’s Opening Night gala will be The Personal History of David Copperfield, directed by the multi-award-winning writer, filmmaker and broadcaster Armando Iannucci and starring BAFTA Award winner Dev Patel as David Copperfield.  

The film will receive its European Premiere on Wednesday 2^nd October at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square.  This fresh take on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, boasts a stellar British cast, led by Patel, alongside Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw, Paul Whitehouse and Gwendoline Christie; many of whom are expected on the red carpet in Leicester Square.  

An avid Dickens fan, Iannucci (the award-winning writer/director of TheThick of It, In the Loop, Veep andThe Death of Stalin) adapts here, alongside frequent collaborator Simon Blackwell, employing his comedic mastery and vivid characterizations to bring to life one of Dickens’ most cherished characters in The Personal History of David Copperfield. From birth to infancy, from adolescence to adulthood, the good-hearted David Copperfield is surrounded by kindness, wickedness, poverty and wealth, as he meets an array of remarkable characters in Victorian England. As David sets out to be a writer, in his quest for family, friendship, romance and status, the story of his life is the most seductive tale of all. 

Armando Iannucci, director, producer and co-writer, commented:

“It’s a huge thrill and honour to be asked to open the fantastic BFI London Film Festival. ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ is a film about compassion, humour, generosity and friendship, and I couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming setting in which to premiere it.”

The 63rd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 2nd October – Sunday 13th October, the full Festival programme will be announced on Thursday 29 August.