The Favourite, a film directed by Academy Award nominee Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Olivia Colman (The Crown, The Night Manager), Emma Stone (La La Land), Nicholas Hoult (Rebel in the Rye, Mad Max), and Rachel Weisz (My Cousin Rachel, The Lobster), will receive its UK premiere on Thursday 18 October at the Cineworld, Leicester Square as BFI London Film Festival’s American Express Gala.
It’s the early 18th century and England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving at court. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to both Sarah and the queen, and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become intense, so too does intrigue at the palace. Abigail is determined to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.
Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, says:
“This is wickedly funny filmmaking from Yorgos Lanthimos who is operating at virtuoso frequency. The Favourite is a delight from start to finish, powered by a trio of riotous performances from Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz who are all clearly revelling in the wit and rhythm of the script. The perfect Gala for our principal partner American Express.”

The Favourite is released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 1 January 2019.

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