The LIFF 2018 Programme Launch has revealed a thrilling selection of British and international cinema for two weeks throughout the city.
To kick start the 32nd Leeds International Film Festival at Victoria Hall in Leeds Town Hall, we are delighted to present the world premiere of a new documentary about a Leeds sporting hero, newly-crowned IBF featherweight boxing champion Josh Warrington.
Flying LS postcode flag on LIFF 2018’s opening night, from Leeds-based Moneyglass Films and supported by Screen Yorkshire, Josh Warrington: Fighting for a City captures the sacrifices, struggles, surprises and joys involved in achieving sporting greatness, while also telling the story of a young man’s dedication to his family and to the city itself - aptly in association with Leeds 2023.
Following Josh Warrington: Fighting for a City on Opening Night we proudly bring to the big screen in Victoria Hall rapper turned filmmaker Boots Riley’s politically supercharged satire Sorry to Bother. A must-see at LIFF 2018, skewering its targets in every direction from fat cat capitalists to racist institutions, the story follows Cassius Green (the brilliant Lakeith Stanfield) as Riley escalates the film’s satire, ricocheting from comic vignettes to confrontational agitprop to demented fantasy, in a wildly inventive, hugely entertaining cinematic ride.
Mike Leigh delivers an impassioned warning against political complacency in his latest film which focuses on the infamous Peterloo massacre of 1819 when a demonstration for political reform led to the deaths of many protestors. Leigh has crafted a tense piece of work as he chronicles the events leading up to the tragic day and shows a political class convinced that reform equals revolution. With some strong performances by the likes of Maxine Peake and Rory Kinnear, this is some of Leigh’s most fierce and powerful work. We are delighted to welcome Mike Leigh in person at LIFF2018 for a Q&A after the screening.
With a warm welcome planned for all those who plan to walk up the LIFF carpet out for Opening Night, we encourage everyone to come down and join us as we start the Festival as we mean to end - in truly innovative, cinematic style.
Josh Warrington: Fighting for a City will be screening at Victoria Hall, Leeds Town Hall on Thu 1 Nov at 6.30pm. Click here to buy your ticket.
Sorry to Bother You will be screening at Victoria Hall, Leeds Town Hall on Thu 1 Nov at 9pm. Click here to buy your ticket.
Peterloo + Q&A will be screening at Vue in The Light on Thu 1 Nov at 7pm. Click here to buy your ticket.
