‘Saltburn’ to Open BFI London Film Festival

There were many wondering why Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” did not show up inside the Toronto and Venice lineups.

This morning’s announcement that “Saltburn” will be opening the BFI London festival as an “International Premiere” means that it’ll most likely be playing multiple film fests this season. We are also, most likely, looking at a Telluride world premiere on labor day weekend.

Around a month ago, I was hearing that TIFF, Telluride and Venice were fighting it out for the world premiere of Fennell’s film. Telluride seems to have come out on top. Last month in an interview, Venice director Alberto Barbera seemed genuinely frustrated by his festival missing out on this film.

Fennell’s upcoming thriller, starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Ewan Mitchell and Rosamund Pike, test-screened in February to wildly positive reactions. Fennell directed the Sundance sensation, “Promising Young Woman,” in 2020. She went on to win a Best Original Screenplay Oscar, but was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.

The film, which is set in the early aughts, is being described as a Thriller/Drama. A significant amount of the plot takes place in college. The movie is said to revolve around Keoghan’s obsession with Elordi’s character.

Saltburn opens Kristy Matheson’s first festival in her new role as BFI Festival director. Here’s what she had to say about “Saltburn”:

“As soon as the credits rolled on Saltburn it was clear we’d met our opening night film. Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell returns with an expertly crafted and exhilarating thrill ride of a film that showcases an enormous depth of UKtalents in front of and behind the camera. With its exceptional performances, delicious plot twists and a soundtrack of early 21st century pop bangers, this hugely ambitious film immediately stole our hearts and we can’t wait to share it with audiences in London and across the UK this October.”

The 67th BFI London Film Festival runs from October 4 to 15.