‘Matilda’ leads celebrity-filled lineup at London film fest

By SIAN WATSON
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — After a pared down, pandemic-affected edition in 2021, the BFI London Film Festival is back in full swing. The annual event kicks off Wednesday evening with the premiere of a new, musical action adaptation of “Matilda” — the first time in a decade that a family-friendly film has opened the festival. Based on the story by Roald Dahl and featuring the songs of Tim Minchin, newcomer Alisha Weir takes the lead role with support from stars Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch and Stephen Graham. Speaking ahead of the gala, festival director Tricia Tuttle called the choice of opening film “joyous,” adding that “it plays really well to everyone.”