BBC Films’ A United Kingdom opens the London Film Festival

BBC Films’ A United Kingdom opens the 60th BFI London Film Festival tonight (Wednesday 5 October).

Director Amma Asante is the first black British director to open the Festival. Her film, with a screenplay by Guy Hibbert tells the inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments. Seretse and Ruth defied family, Apartheid and empire - their love triumphed over every obstacle flung in their path and in so doing they transformed their nation and inspired the world.

Other BBC Films in the festival include: The gala screening of WWII drama Their Finest starring Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy; the documentary about Sergei Polunin, Dancer; Mark Cousins’ Stockholm My Love starring Neneh Cherry; Alex Taylor’s Spaceship; Pete Travis' crime thriller City of Tiny Lights; and Sean Foley’s comedy Mindhorn.

In addition there’s William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth and Hope Dickson Leach’s Somerset drama The Levelling which are both in the First Feature competition. 

The BFI London Film Festival 2016 runs from 5-16 October and you can explore the full programme on the BFI website.