This October, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga get caught in a bad romance in Joker: Folie À Deux, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong provide a compelling account of Trump’s early years in The Apprentice and Selena Gomez stars in award-winning musical comedy Emilia Pérez.
Plus, we welcome two huge film festivals – British Urban Film Festival and Film Africa – to our screens.
‘Joker: Folie À Deux‘ Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
This month begins in a phenomenal manner with the return of Arthur Fleck AKA Joker to our screens with the long-awaited sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, screening from Fri 4 Oct.
Todd Phillips returns to direct, and reunites with Joaquin Phoenix, for a deeper exploration into the manic mind of the Clown Prince of Crime. Phoenix is joined this time around by Lady Gaga – taking on the role of Harley Quinn – who helps bring out the musical side of Arthur, providing a stunning dichotomy of musical extravagance in opposition to the grim reality that has befallen Gotham. Fascinatingly playing off the distinction between the real vs. the un-real, Joker: Folie à Deux offers a compelling cinematic odyssey befitting the big screen.
Check out the stunning trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux, as well as Time Out’s adoring review.
‘The Apprentice’ Image courtesy of StudioCanal.
Then from Fri 18 Oct, welcome the Palme d’Or nominated The Apprentice to our screens, as it is finally released in the UK after Trump’s legal team failed to block its release.
The biographical drama stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as New York City prosecutor Roy Cohn, as we explore their relationship through the 70’s and 80’s. A masterclass in observing this compelling, consequential mentor/protégé relationship – one that continues to shape global headlines – as well as encapsulating the highs and lows of the American Dream, director Ali Abbasi’s English language debut is not one to be missed.
Have a read of The A. V. Club’s glowing review, and watch the gripping trailer for The Apprentice.
‘Emilia Perez’. Image courtesy of Netflix.
To round out the month, we bring in Palme D’or winner Jacques Audiard’s (A Prophet) Cannes Jury Prize and Best Actress winning Emilia Pérez, from Fri 25 Oct.
This musical crime comedy centres upon the fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón), who enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can live authentically as her true self. A bombastic mix of music, Almodóvarian humour, social realism and telenovela camp Emilia Pérez marks a big swing from Audiard, but it will be up to you to decide whether he sticks the landing.
Watch the glamorous trailer for Emilia Perez and read Variety’s adoring review.
Alongside main features, we’re also welcoming two huge film festivals to our screens this month.
‘God Is Grey’ Image courtesy of BUFF.
First up, from Fri 18 – Sun 20 Oct, we welcome the return of British Urban Film Festival (BUFF). Abiding by four core principles: keeping people inspired, interested, informed and keeping people involved, BUFF strives to tell excellent stories about diversity in all its forms – make sure you don’t miss their expertly crafted shorts programmes.
Explore the full BUFF programme here.
‘On Becoming A Guinea Fowl‘ Image courtesy of Film Africa.
Then from Fri 25 Oct – Sun 3 Nov, we’re delighted to be hosting Film Africa – London’s biggest celebration of African and African diaspora cinema presented by the Royal African Society. This year’s festival promises an exhilarating array of films, including the Cannes award-winning On Becoming a Guinea Fowl + Q&A on Mon 28 Oct, as well as Death of a Whistleblower, the South African thriller which stunned audiences at Toronto International Film Festival on Tue 29 Oct.
See the rest of Film Africa’s programme here.
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