Russell Hobbs British Film Festival: Rock legends, blockbusters and a tatted Barry Keoghan

Forget the overplayed Hollywood blockbusters—there’s so much more to appreciate in the refined beauty of British film. Plus, let’s be honest, it’s home to some of the world’s biggest heartthrobs and most legendary actors.

This year’s British Film Festival gives us a seriously deep dive into the nation’s cinema, capturing everything from its rebellious rock ‘n’ roll stars to its ancient historical icons in stunning 4K. There’s no way we can sum it all up in one intro, so we’ve broken down the entire lineup below, complete with trailers. Enjoy!

The Brit Rock to Brit Pop series 

The Stones and Brian Jones

• Year: 2023
• Director: Nick Broomfield
• Starring: Documentary
• Genre: Documentary, Music

Nick Broomfield’s The Stones and Brian Jones uncovers the untold story of Brian Jones, the creative force behind The Rolling Stones, whose tragic life left a lasting impact on the band and the music industry. The documentary dives deep into the man who helped shape one of the greatest rock bands in history.

The Song Remains the Same

• Year: 1976
• Director: Peter Clifton, Joe Massot
• Starring: Led Zeppelin
• Genre: Documentary, Music

The Song Remains the Same showcases Led Zeppelin’s legendary 1973 performances at Madison Square Garden, intertwining concert footage with surreal fantasy sequences representing the band members’ personas. This classic rock documentary captures the energy and charisma of one of the world’s most iconic bands.

Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium

• Year: 2024
• Director: Sam Wrench
• Starring: Blur
• Genre: Concert Film, Music

Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium immortalises the band’s historic 2023 show at Wembley Stadium, where they performed their most beloved songs for 150,000 adoring fans. This two-hour concert film captures the energy and emotion of the band’s triumphant return to the stage.

Blur: To The End

• Year: 2024
• Director: Sam Wrench
• Starring: Blur
• Genre: Documentary, Music

In Blur: To the End, audiences get an inside look at the period during which the band made their first album in eight years, The Ballad of Darren. The documentary captures the raw emotions and creative processes behind their long-awaited return to the music scene.

The History Restored series in 4K

A Man for All Seasons

• Year: 1966 (4K Restoration)
• Director: Fred Zinnemann
• Starring: Paul Scofield
• Genre: Historical, Drama

A Man for All Seasons is an Oscar-winning historical drama exploring Sir Thomas More’s moral stand against King Henry VIII’s divorce. The film returns to the festival in a stunning 4K restoration, celebrating its legacy as a British classic.

Heat and Dust

• Year: 1983
• Director: James Ivory
• Starring: Julie Christie
• Genre: Drama

Heat and Dust intertwines two parallel love stories set in 1920s India and modern-day England. Directed by James Ivory and based on the novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, the film explores cultural clashes and personal desires in a visually stunning epic.

Henry V

• Year: 1989
• Director: Kenneth Branagh
• Starring: Kenneth Branagh
• Genre: Drama, Historical

Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V is a gritty and acclaimed portrayal of the famous king’s military victories. Both Branagh’s direction and performance earned widespread praise, making this film a key part of the festival’s programme.

The Music Lovers

• Year: 1971
• Director: Ken Russell
• Starring: Richard Chamberlain
• Genre: Drama, Biographical

Ken Russell’s The Music Lovers is a powerful biographical drama that delves into the tumultuous life of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Richard Chamberlain delivers a haunting portrayal of the genius composer, whose personal struggles and artistic triumphs remain legendary.

The glorious full program

Blitz

• Year: 2023
• Director: Steve McQueen
• Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller, Elliot Heffernan
• Genre: Drama, Historical

Opening the festival is the Australian premiere of Blitz, a visually stunning period drama directed by Steve McQueen. The film captures pivotal moments during World War II in London, offering a raw depiction of the era’s hardships and resilience, with standout performances by Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliot Heffernan.

We Live in Time

• Year: 2024
• Director: John Crowley
• Starring: Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield
• Genre: Romance, Drama

The festival’s closing film is the highly anticipated We Live in Time, featuring Oscar-nominated stars Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. This emotionally charged romance delves into how we can make the most of our limited time in life, with beautifully nuanced performances from the lead actors.

Hard Truths

• Year: 2024
• Director: Mike Leigh
• Starring: Marianne Jean-Baptiste
• Genre: Drama, Comedy

As this year’s festival centrepiece, Hard Truths marks director Mike Leigh’s return to the screen. The film is a darkly humorous exploration of family dynamics, following a hypersensitive woman and her impact on those around her, offering Leigh’s signature blend of compassion and sharp wit.

The Outrun

• Year: 2024
• Director: Nora Fingscheidt
• Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Paapa Essiedu
• Genre: Drama

Based on Amy Liptrot’s memoir, The Outrun stars Saoirse Ronan as Rona, who flees her turbulent life in London to return to her childhood home on the Orkney Islands. The film captures her journey of reconciliation with her troubled past and the healing power of nature.

The Return

• Year: 2024
• Director: Uberto Pasolini
• Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche
• Genre: Drama, Historical

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche star in The Return, a new adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey with a distinctly British twist. This classical drama explores themes of homecoming and reconciliation, offering a meticulously crafted narrative with an all-star cast.

Widow Clicquot

• Year: 2024
• Director: Thomas Kruithof
• Starring: Hélène Vincent
• Genre: Drama, Biographical

Widow Clicquot tells the rousing true story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, better known as Veuve Clicquot, the “Grande Dame of Champagne.” This biographical drama offers a compelling portrait of the woman who revolutionised the champagne industry.

Falling Into Place

• Year: 2024
• Director: Aylin Tezel
• Starring: Aylin Tezel
• Genre: Drama

Aylin Tezel makes her directorial debut with Falling Into Place, a tender drama about two strangers who cross paths on the Isle of Skye. The film delves into their individual struggles and how they find solace in each other’s company. Tezel will be attending special Q&A events in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

Firebrand

• Year: 2024
• Director: Karim Aïnouz
• Starring: Alicia Vikander, Jude Law
• Genre: Drama, Historical

Set during the final months of King Henry VIII’s reign, Firebrand follows his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, as she navigates the perilous challenges of the Tudor court. Alicia Vikander and Jude Law lead this gripping historical drama about power and survival.

Conclave

• Year: 2024
• Director: Edward Berger
• Starring: Ralph Fiennes
• Genre: Drama, Thriller

In Conclave, Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, who is entrusted with the secretive task of selecting a new Pope. As he navigates the Vatican’s sacred halls, he uncovers secrets that could destabilise the Roman Catholic Church.

Four Letters of Love

• Year: 2024
• Director: Polly Steele
• Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter
• Genre: Drama, Romance

Four Letters of Love tells the tender story of Nicholas and Isabel, two souls destined for each other. However, their journey to true love is far from simple, as they face numerous obstacles in their quest for happiness.

The Salt Path

• Year: 2024
• Director: Gillies MacKinnon
• Starring: Gillian Anderson, Jason Isaacs
• Genre: Drama

The Salt Path follows a couple who, after losing their home and facing a terminal diagnosis, embark on a 630-mile coastal walk in search of healing. Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs deliver career-best performances in this poignant drama.

This Time Next Year

• Year: 2024
• Director: James Kent
• Starring: Charlotte Hope, George Mackay
• Genre: Romance, Drama

This Time Next Year follows the lives of Minnie and Quinn, who are born just one minute apart on the same day. Despite their close timing, their lives take vastly different paths. A chance encounter years later offers them an opportunity to take a leap of faith in love.

Bird

• Year: 2024
• Director: Andrea Arnold
• Starring: Barry Keoghan
• Genre: Drama

Andrea Arnold’s Bird tells the story of 12-year-old Bailey, who finds comfort in nature as she struggles to deal with her father’s new marriage and her mother’s abusive partner. Through a mysterious encounter, Bailey gains the strength to confront her challenges.

And Mrs

• Year: 2024
• Director: Deborah Haywood
• Starring: Andrea Riseborough
• Genre: Comedy, Romance

In the offbeat rom-com And Mrs, a bride-to-be loses her fiancé unexpectedly but decides to go ahead with the wedding anyway. Defying societal expectations, legal barriers, and the opinions of her loved ones, she’s determined to make her day special on her own terms.

The Radleys

• Year: 2024
• Director: Euros Lyn
• Starring: Ruth Wilson, Matthew Macfadyen
• Genre: Comedy, Horror

The Radleys is a quirky comedy about a seemingly ordinary family with a dark secret—they’re vampires. The film humorously explores their attempts to blend into society while hiding their true nature, leading to hilarious and unexpected twists.

Chuck Chuck Baby

• Year: 2024
• Director: Janis Pugh
• Starring: Louise Brealey, Annabel Scholey
• Genre: Comedy, Musical

Chuck Chuck Baby follows Helen, whose mundane life takes an unexpected turn when her charismatic childhood friend Joanne returns. Set in a Welsh chicken processing plant, this musical rom-com is full of heart, humour, and delightful surprises.

The Problem With People

• Year: 2024
• Director: Chris Cottam
• Starring: Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser
• Genre: Comedy

In The Problem With People, two estranged cousins must navigate family disputes when they meet for the first time. Colm Meaney and US comedian Paul Reiser deliver hilarious performances in this film about resolving generations of misunderstandings before sparking new ones.

Timestalker

• Year: 2024
• Director: Alice Lowe
• Starring: Alice Lowe, Aneurin Barnard
• Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi

TimeStalker follows a woman obsessed with the same bad boy across six centuries. This time-bending dark comedy offers a sharp commentary on obsession and desire, combining humour with an unconventional narrative structure.

Tuesday

• Year: 2024
• Director: Daina O. Pusic
• Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

Tuesday follows a mother and daughter who must face Death when it appears in an unexpected form. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivers a moving performance in this bittersweet exploration of love, loss, and the inevitable passage of time.

Poison

• Year: 2024
• Director: Avinash Arun
• Starring: Tim Roth, Trine Dyrholm
• Genre: Drama

Poison is an intimate exploration of grief and healing. It centres on Lucas and Edith, a once-married couple who reunite under unexpected circumstances after ten years of estrangement, with both actors delivering powerful performances in this emotional drama.

Edge of Summer

• Year: 2024
• Director: Dominic Cooke
• Starring: Will Tilston, Imogen King
• Genre: Drama, Adventure

Edge of Summer tells the story of two 11-year-olds who embark on a summer adventure, driven by a mysterious call from an abandoned tin mine. Inspired by an old folk tale, this coming-of-age drama explores childhood friendship and the mysteries of the unknown.

Grey Matter

• Year: 2024
• Director: Alice Troughton
• Starring: Amy Forsyth
• Genre: Drama, Biography

Based on true events, Grey Matter follows troubled teenager Chloe Isles as she becomes her grandmother Peg’s carer. This heartfelt drama showcases the challenges and rewards of caregiving while navigating complex family relationships.

Lies We Tell

• Year: 2024
• Director: Mitu Misra
• Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Sibylla Deen
• Genre: Drama, Thriller

Lies We Tell is a feminist reimagining of the classic Gothic tale Uncle Silas. In the film, an orphaned heiress battles her sinister uncle’s schemes to claim her inheritance, challenging both Gothic conventions and her own fate.

Ratcatcher

• Year: 1999 (4K Restoration)
• Director: Lynne Ramsay
• Starring: William Eadie, Tommy Flanagan
• Genre: Drama

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Ratcatcher returns to cinemas in a stunning 4K restoration. Lynne Ramsay’s haunting portrayal of a troubled childhood in 1970s Glasgow remains a powerful piece of cinema, reflecting themes of guilt, poverty, and escape.

A Room With a View

• Year: 1985
• Director: James Ivory
• Starring: Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter
• Genre: Drama, Romance

In tribute to Dame Maggie Smith, the festival will screen A Room With a View, James Ivory’s classic melodrama set in Florence. The film follows a young Englishwoman who struggles with societal expectations and romantic desires during her tour of Italy.

Merchant Ivory

• Year: 2024
• Director: Lucie Arnaz
• Starring: Documentary
• Genre: Documentary

Merchant Ivory reflects on the prolific partnership between producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory. The documentary examines their impact on arthouse cinema, with key collaborators offering insights into the creative processes behind their 44-film collaboration.

The Shamrock Spitfire

• Year: 2024
• Director: Colin Teague
• Starring: Luke Newberry
• Genre: Drama, War

The Shamrock Spitfire tells the story of Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, an Irish fighter ace who rises through the ranks of the RAF during World War II. The film explores his daring exploits and his legacy as one of the youngest Wing Commanders in history.

Tickets are now on sale here.

This article was made in partnership with Palace Cinemas.