The 65th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express is delighted to announce that this year’s Opening Night Gala will be Netflix’s THE HARDER THEY FALL, directed by Londoner Jeymes Samuel. The film will receive its World Premiere on Wednesday 6 October at LFF gala venue the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with Samuel expected to attend along with key cast including Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Regina King and Idris Elba.

The BFI London Film Festival is also pleased to announce that there will be simultaneous preview screenings of THE HARDER THEY FALL taking place at cinemas across the UK. The film will debut on Netflix on November 3 following a theatrical release in UK cinemas.

‘The Harder They Fall’ Courtesy of Netflix

Written by Jeymes Samuel and Boaz Yakin produced by Shawn Carter, James Lassiter, Lawrence Bender and Samuel, the film features an original soundtrack album produced by Samuel and executive produced by Carter, and a stunning all-star cast, including Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr. and Deon Cole with Regina King and Idris Elba.

When outlaw Nat Love (Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Elba) is being released from prison, he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge. Those riding with him in this assured, righteously new school Western includes his former love Stagecoach Mary, his right- and left-hand men — hot-tempered Bill Pickett and fast drawing Jim Beckwourth – and a surprising adversary-turned-ally.  Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including “Treacherous” Trudy Smith and Cherokee Bill, and they are not a group that knows how to lose.

The BFI London Film Festival has previously announced that, alongside flagship venue BFI Southbank, a new partnership with the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall will make London’s South Bank the heart of the film festival experience, with this iconic cultural neighbour hosting red carpet gala premieres.

‘The Harder They Fall’ Courtesy of Netflix

Audiences can book tickets from £10 (£5 for 25 & under) for all LFF gala screenings at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Other London venue partners will return with the West End remaining a key hub for the Festival’s film programme. This year’s LFF will bring back some of the most popular elements of 2020’s hugely successful hybrid edition that made it the most accessible Festival ever, with a selected programme available at UK-wide cinema partners and a broad range of films from the programme screening on BFI Player, alongside the in-cinema premieres.

The 65th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 6 October – Sunday 17 October 2021. Tickets go on sale 10AM Monday 10th September.

Further details on screenings and booking tickets here 

Header Image: courtesy of Netflix