Special Features - Keeping it in the family at the 55th BFI London Film Festival

Whoever said it was all about who you know, they certainly weren’t wrong as this year’s BFI London Film Festival sets itself up as a truly family affair...

Following in the footsteps of his father, the late, great Dennis Hopper, Henry Hopper makes his acting debut in indie flick Restless, starring next to up-and-coming Hollywood star, Mia Wasikowska. At just 21 years old, Henry is taking centre stage at the same age his father was when he starred in classics Rebel Without A Cause and Giant, but with critically-acclaimed director Gus Van Sant behind him, there’s no doubt he’ll be able to fill his big shoes.

Also stepping into the star-studded limelight like her father is Eve Hewson, daughter of U2’s front man, Bono. Despite taking a slightly different creative direction to her Dad, Eve is set for big things, starring in the Film on the Square feature, This Must Be The Place, alongside Oscar-winners Sean Penn and Frances McDormand.

Taking a more behind-the-scenes role is producer, Amy Gilliam who, as daughter of Monty Python creator and renowned director, Terry Gilliam, leads the production of her father’s own film, The Wholly Family. Terry himself features twice in this year’s festival: voicing a character in the magical Monster of Nix, as well as writer and directing The Wholly Family in partnership with his daughter.

It’s not just dads that are inspiring their offspring to take on the big screen though, as Joely Richardson stars alongside her mother, Vanessa Redgrave in Roland Emmerich’s tale of conspiracy and deceit, Anonymous, with Rhys Ifans and Davis Thewlis. Featuring in the Galas & Special Screenings strand, Joely Richardson plays a young Queen Elizabeth I, with her mother adopting the same role in later years.

Siblings are also making their mark, as Elizabeth Olsen steps out of her sisters’ shadow to take the lead role in psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene, whilst directorial sibling duos Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (The Kid With A Bike) and Delphine and Muriel Coulin (17 Girls) also feature in the line-up.

Finally, the late Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock, Alma Reville, features in the Galas & Screenings strand posthumously. Writer of The First Born, Reville’s words have been restored by the BFI National Archive, including reinstated missing footage, offering a great opportunity to see this classic.



The 55th BFI London Film Festival (in partnership with American Express) runs from 12th to 27th October. Ticket booking info: www.bfi.org.uk/lff (the box office is now open to the public).