'Frost/Nixon' World Premiere To Open BFI 52nd London Film Festival

The Times BFI London Film Festival is proud to announce that this year's festival will open on October 15 with the world premiere of Universal Pictures' electrifying drama 'Frost/Nixon' from Oscar-winning director/producer Ron Howard and Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer, together with BAFTA award-winning producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
Adapted for the screen from his own stage play by BAFTA-winning scriptwriter Peter Morgan, 'Frost/Nixon' sees Michael Sheen and Frank Langella reprise their West End and Broadway roles as journalist David Frost and President Richard Nixon.
They are joined by a powerful supporting cast including American actors Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell, as well as British performers Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones and Matthew MacFayden.
In summer 1977, the televised David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews attracted the largest audience for a new programme in the history of American TV.
More than 45 million viewers - hungry for a glimpse into the mind of their disgraced former commander-in-chief and anxious for him to acknowledge the abuses of power that led to his resignation - sat transfixed as Nixon and Frost sparred in a riveting verbal boxing match over the course of four evenings.
Receiving its world premiere in the same city that launched the play's phenomenal success, 'Frost/Nixon' not only re-creates the on-air interviews, but the weeks of around-the-world, behind-the-scenes manoeuvring between the two men and their camps as negotiations were struck, deals were made and secrets revealed... all leading to the moment when they would sit facing one another in the court of public opinion. Universal Pictures will release the film in the UK on January 9, 2009.
Sandra Hebron, the Festival's Artistic Director, commented: "We're delighted to be opening our festival with this fascinating study of a unique moment in cultural and political life. Engrossing and entertaining by turns, and brilliantly performed, it is a film with strong London links and a perfect opener for this year's festival."
On having the film's world premiere in London, screenwriter and executive producer Peter Morgan noted: "I've been so fortunate with 'Frost/Nixon', working with two world-class directors in theatre and film and watching two lead actors at the top of their games.
"Now having the film premiere at my hometown just completes a thrilling, fairy-tale ride for me."
On behalf of Working Title, producer Eric Fellner, added: "We are thrilled to open the London Film Festival with 'Frost/Nixon' and it is entirely appropriate as London is where the journey began for all of us when we saw and were enthralled by the original play when it opened here in August 2006."
The full programme for The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival will be announced on September 10. The festival runs from October 15-30.
See: www.bfi.org.uk
(KMcA)