Mike Leigh’s Peterloo announced as first ever BFI London Film Festival premiere outside London

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® is thrilled to announce the UK premiere of Mike Leigh’s Peterloo live from HOME in Manchester, followed by a Q&A, simulcast to cinemas around the UK, on Wednesday 17 October. The premiere will be attended by Leigh and members of the cast.

On Friday 19 October the film will also screen in London, with a Q&A afterwards with Mike Leigh.

Distributed by Entertainment One (eOne), Peterloo tells the story of the Peterloo massacre, which took place 199 years ago today, on 16 August 1819, and stars Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Neil Bell, Philip Jackson, Vincent Franklin, Karl Johnson and Tim McInnerny.

The screening represents the first time the BFI London Film Festival has premiered a film outside of the capital, offering audiences in Manchester and nationwide the opportunity to preview a major release with Manchester’s history at its forefront.

Written and directed by Mike Leigh, Peterloo is an epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter’s Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reform and protest against rising levels of poverty. Many protestors were killed and hundreds more injured, sparking a nationwide outcry but also further government suppression. The Peterloo Massacre was a defining moment in British democracy.

Peterloo reunites Mike Leigh with his regular team of Oscar and BAFTA winners and nominees, including Dick Pope (cinematography), Suzie Davies (production design), Jacqueline Durran (costumes), Christine Blundell (hair and make-up), Jon Gregory (editing) and Gary Yershon (music). Georgina Lowe produces for Thin Man Films, with Gail Egan serving as executive producer.

Peterloo is a Thin Man Films production. Amazon Studios is co-financier and US distributor, with additional finance coming from Film4, who backed the film’s development, the BFI (awarding funds from the National Lottery) and Lipsync. Cornerstone Films is handling international sales and distribution.
 
Mike Leigh, director of Peterloo, says:

“It’s always an honour to be included in the glorious London Film Festival, but how inspired and generous of the Festival to screen Peterloo in Manchester, where it all happened! I’m truly delighted!”

Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, says:

“In Peterloo, Mike Leigh and his talented cast and crew have delivered a rousing, powerful film of immense scale and ambition. The Festival is thrilled to partner with Entertainment One to host this from the beautiful cinemas at HOME in the heart of Manchester where the film is set, and to take the premiere out to audiences UK-wide through the simulcast.”

eOne will release Peterloo in cinemas across the UK on 2 November 2018.

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 10 October-Sunday 21 October 2018. The full Festival programme will be announced on Thursday 30 August 2018.