European premiere of Piece by Piece to close the 68th BFI London Film Festival 

The 68th BFI London Film Festival (9 to 20 October) in partnership with American Express is delighted to announce that this year’s Closing Night Gala will be the European Premiere of Piece by Piece, with director Morgan Neville and Pharrell Williams both confirmed to attend. Piece by Piece is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams, all told through the lens of LEGO animation.  

Directed by Academy Award winning documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom), Piece by Piece is a film like no other. Hugely inventive, this animated biopic explores the life and work of Pharrell Williams in a medium that Williams himself suggested in early conversations with the director, who describes the choice of LEGO animation as a metaphor for how Williams see the world – in groundbreaking and deeply creative ways.  

Featuring a star-studded cast rendered in LEGO alongside Williams, including Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg, Piece by Piece charts the cultural phenomenon that is Williams, from humble beginnings in Virginia Beach and his early career as a producer in The Neptunes and performer in N.E.R.D., to become one of the most prolific and successful artists working today.  

Director Morgan Neville said: “The BFI London Film Festival has been supportive of my career for a long time, with my first time screening there being over twenty years ago. Bringing Piece by Piece to the LFF means the world to me, and getting to be the closing night gala is the cherry on top of this huge honour. I’m thrilled to celebrate this film with the London audience.” 

Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “Piece by Piece is a film of enormous joy and invention. In telling the story of Pharrell Williams, entirely in LEGO, acclaimed documentarian Morgan Neville brings a sense of wonder to this story that matches the creativity and verve of his subject. This is a must for fans and will charm the uninitiated alike, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Piece by Piece to close this year’s BFI London Film Festival.” 

Piece by Piece  will close the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday 20 October at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with the festival’s 9 UK-wide partner venues screening the film simultaneously.  

Piece by Piece  will be released in UK cinemas on 8 November.  

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).