It’s that time of the year when the films everyone is anticipating this fall start to fall into place in the various film festivals. We’ve been reporting a lot on the Venice Film Festival, and its incredible lineup so far, and tomorrow sees the release of the official lineup for the Toronto International Film Festival. However, there’s also news about the 56th New York Film Festival, and it’s opening film, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite.”
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The festival released an official announcement saying that the filmmaker’s follow-up to “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” would be opening the festival at the end of September. However, this is listed as the “New York premiere,” so we can expect to hear word on which festival will mark the world premiere soon enough.
“The Favourite” tells the story of a bitter rivalry between two women in 18th century England as they fight to the death over the body and soul of the Queen. However, as you might expect from Lanthimos, “The Favourite” won’t be your typical period piece.
“It’s a great privilege to be showing ‘The Favourite’ for the opening night of the New York Film Festival, which is a very special place for the film,” said Lanthimos. “I had a wonderful experience screening ‘The Lobster’ at this distinct festival and I’m looking forward to sharing ‘The Favourite’ with audiences in New York. I was envisioning this film for many years and eventually had a lot of fun making it.”
New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “’The Favourite’ is a lot of things at once, each of them perfectly meshed: a historical epic; a visual feast; a wild, wild ride; a formidable display of the art of acting from Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Olivia Colman, abetted by a brilliant cast; a tour de force from Yorgos Lanthimos. And… it’s a blast. We’re very excited to have it as our opening night film.”
The New York Film Festival will kick off, with the opening night screening of “The Favourite,” on September 28.
Also, here’s two new pictures from the film:
