Huge first at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express®: the UK premiere of Mike Leigh’s Peterloo will be live from Manchester on Wednesday 17 October and followed by a Q&A, simulcast to cinemas around the UK. The premiere will be attended by Mike Leigh and members of the cast.
On Friday 19 October the film will also screen in London, with a Q&A afterwards with Mike Leigh.

Peterloo tells the story of the Peterloo massacre, which took place on August 16th 1819, Leigh‘s movie stars Rory Kinnear (The Imitation Game, Skyfall), Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything), Neil Bell (Pan), Philip Jackson (The Best Offer, Marilyn), Vincent Franklin (Happy Valley), Karl Johnson (The Illusionist) and Tim McInnerny (Game of Thrones). Peterloo is an epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter’s Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reform and protest against rising levels of poverty. Many protestors were killed and hundreds more injured, sparking a nationwide outcry but also further government suppression. The Peterloo Massacre was a defining moment in British democracy.
This screening represents the first time the BFI London Film Festival has premiered a film outside of the capital, offering audiences in Manchester and nationwide the opportunity to preview a major release with Manchester’s history at its forefront.
Mike Leigh, director and writer of Peterloo, says:
“It’s always an honour to be included in the glorious London Film Festival, but how inspired and generous of the Festival to screen Peterloo in Manchester, where it all happened! I’m truly delighted!”
Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, says:
“In Peterloo, Mike Leigh and his talented cast and crew have delivered a rousing, powerful film of immense scale and ambition. The Festival is thrilled to partner with Entertainment One to host this from the beautiful cinemas at HOME in the heart of Manchester where the film is set, and to take the premiere out to audiences UK-wide through the simulcast.”

eOne will release Peterloo in cinemas across the UK on 2 November 2018.

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 10 October-Sunday 21 October 2018.