Steve McQueen’s Blitz to open the London film festival

Blitz, a new drama from Steve McQueen set in London during the second world war, is to open the capital’s film festival in October.

The film stars Saoirse Ronan as Rita, the mother of nine-year-old George (Elliott Heffernan), who sends him to safety in the countryside. But the evacuee is determined to return and travels solo home, while his distraught relatives search for him in the city.

Blitz also marks the acting debut of 66-year-old musician Paul Weller, who plays George’s grandfather, Gerald. Kathy Burke, Stephen Graham, Harris Dickinson and Alex Jennings also feature in the film, which will open in the UK on 1 November, three weeks after its world premiere in London.

The director said: “Blitz is a movie about Londoners. It honours the spirit of what and how Londoners endured during the blitz, but also explores the true representation of people in London, while at its core is the story of a working-class family desperate to be reunited during times of war.

“I could not be more thrilled that the BFI London film festival have invited us to open this year’s festival, and to celebrate the world premiere of Blitz in my hometown.”

Kristy Matheson, the festival director, praised the film’s “incredible scale”, saying “the depth of character and texture of the city are all peerless and make this subject feel completely new”.

All McQueen’s features – Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave, Lovers Rock and Occupied City – have screened at the festival, and 2018’s Widows and 2020’s Mangrove were also opening night films.

Last year’s festival also opened with a British-set world premiere, of Matilda: The Musical. But securing the world premiere of McQueen’s drama, which looks set for a serious awards push, over the likes of Venice, Telluride and Toronto, can be seen as a substantial coup for Matheson.

• The BFI London film festival will run from 9 to 20 October.