European premiere of Elton John: Never Too Late announced as American Express Gala at the 68th BFI London Film Festival

The 68th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express is delighted to announce that this year’s American Express Gala will be the European premiere of Elton John: Never Too Late on Thursday 10 October at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with Elton John and directors R.J. Cutler and David Furnish in attendance.  

Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the documentary follows Elton John as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in this emotionally charged, intimate and uplifting full-circle journey. As he prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, Elton takes us back in time and recounts the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of his early years and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction to become the icon he is today.  

The original documentary from Disney Branded Television is produced by Rocket Entertainment and This Machine Filmworks (a part of Sony Pictures Television) and is directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish. Cutler and Furnish also serve as producers alongside Trevor Smith. Elise Pearlstein, Mark Blatty, Luke Lloyd Davies, Rachael Paley, Jane Cha Cutler, and John Battsek serve as executive producers. 

“Directors R.J. Cutler and David Furnish bring a great intimacy and exhilaration to the story of one of the world’s most accomplished and beloved musicians,” said Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director. “We’re delighted to present Elton John: Never Too Late and give audiences a front row seat to one of the most electrifying creative careers of our age.” 

The 68th edition of the BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express will take place in the following venues:  

• The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall returns as the gala venue  

• BFI Southbank is the home of the competition programme, Screen Talks and LFF for Free events  

• The UK’s biggest screen BFI IMAX will once again host LFF screenings  

• LFF Expanded exhibition of immersive storytelling for a second year at Bargehouse and additional venues across London 

• Five partner cinemas in London’s West End include Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Soho, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End   

• Festival venues across the UK include Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Chapter in Cardiff, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME in Manchester, MAC in Birmingham, Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle and Watershed in Bristol  

• Press and industry screenings take place at Picturehouse Central

In addition to UK-wide screenings at the festival venues, audiences will also be able to explore LFF programmes past and present with a special collection of films on BFI Player.  

The 68th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 9 October to Sunday 20 October 2024. The full festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 4 September 2024, with tickets on sale from Tuesday 17 September (BFI Members book early and American Express® Cardmembers).