Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' Will Close The 52nd London Film Festival

The Closing Night Gala of next month's Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival will be the European Premiere of Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
'Slumdog Millionaire' is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who finds himself just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'.
Arrested on suspicion of cheating, Jamal tells the police the incredible story of his life on the streets, and of the girl he loved and lost. But what is a kid with no interest in money doing on the show? And how does he know all the answers? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the police and sixty million viewers are about to find out... Dev Patel ('Skins') stars alongside an all-Indian cast including Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Madhur Mittal and Frieda Pinto in this uplifting drama set and shot in India.
'Slumdog Millionaire' was adapted for the screen by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy ('The Full Monty') from the bestselling novel 'Q and A' by Vikas Swarup. The film was produced by Christian Colson and Executive Producers Tessa Ross and Paul Smith with cinematography from Boyle's regular collaborator Anthony Dod Mantle ('28 Days Later').
Pathé Distribution will release the Film4 funded film in the UK in early 2009 and Pathé International is handling the international sales.
In addition to bringing the Festival's 16-day celebration of cinema to a close, Danny Boyle will give a career interview as part of the Tiscali Screen Talks series.
Sandra Hebron, the Festival's Artistic Director commented: "We're thrilled to be closing our festival with this latest film from one of the UK's most talented and versatile directors.
"Pulling together a wealth of talent from two continents to tell this moving and truly contemporary tale, 'Slumdog Millionaire' will bring this year's festival to a vibrant and cheering close."
Commenting on having his film invited to close the London Film Festival, Danny Boyle said: "I am delighted that the film will receive its European premiere at the London Film Festival. I hope that Londoners will respond to this story about another great megatropolis - Mumbai, "the Maximum City".
The full programme for The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival will be announced on September 10. The festival runs from October 15 - 30.
Further information is available at: www.bfi.org.uk/lff.
(KMcA)