Good Afternoon Lovelies,

Today is a very exciting day for all of us who have been waiting for the first announcement from the BFI Film Festival 2017. Marking the opening of the 61st event, the biggest for the UK film industry, Andy Serkis’ directorial debut Breathe will be featured at the Opening Night Gala.

Starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, as husband and wife Robin and Diana Cavendish, the event will take place on the 4th October at the Odeon Leicester Square, with the director and cast due to attend.

The film, which will also air at different cinemas around the UK, tells a real love story without limits. Robin, whose whole life was ahead of him, is paralysed by polio whilst in Africa, resulting in only months to live. Against everyone else’s advice, his wife Diana brings him home from the hospital to care for him. It is her hard work that inspires Robin to live a fulfilled life with humour, courage and love.

Speaking about the opening film, Clare Stewart, BFI London Film Festival Director, said:  “We are proud to be opening the 61st BFI London Film Festival with a film that is a beacon for remarkable British talent: the directorial debut of Andy Serkis, compelling performances from a stellar cast led by Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, and a story of universal resonance that is also deeply personal for producer Jonathan Cavendish. BREATHE is not only an inspirational love story, it is also a film about two truly indomitable spirits who defy the odds and the sceptics to pave the way for change.”

Whilst, Breathe Director Andy Serkis stated: "On behalf of the cast and crew of Breathe, we are absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to be the Opening Gala performance in this year’s incredibly richly diverse and world-class BFI London Film Festival. Breathe is a deeply personal story to all of us at The Imaginarium and to have the European premiere of my directorial debut in London, my hometown, is beyond my wildest dreams.”

The film will be released by STXinternational on the 27th October in the UK lovelies and you can watch the first trailer for it below: