Written by Kianna Best on Aug 27, 2024. Posted in Awards and Festivals

68th BFI London Film Festival sets world premiere of Joy for Cunard Gala

This year’s Cunard Gala, held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, will welcome the world premiere of Joy on 15 October. Directed by Ben Taylor, Joy stars Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy for the screenplay written by Jack Thorne. The 68^th London Film festival will take place from 9-20 October, 2024.

“We're honoured to present the World Premiere of Joy,” commented Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival director. “It's a beautifully made film with terrific performances throughout and we've no doubt that audiences will be as moved as we were by this inspiring true story and the lasting impact it's had on so many."

“I am truly honoured that my debut film, Joy, will receive its world premiere at this year’s BFI London Film Festival,” commented Taylor. “This is a far too little-known story of British scientific achievement and it feels perfect to celebrate these three maverick pioneers - and their world changing innovation of IVF - here at home. Joy is a very personal story for me, as I am sure it will be for many of our audience. But beyond the personal, I hope this film will have all the more resonance today when infertility and issues of choice are so much in the spotlight."

Joy tells the story of the true story behind the birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978, the world’s first test tube baby. Told through the perspective of nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy, played by McKenzie, the story follows how her joining of forces with scientist Robert Edwards, played by Norton and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, played by Nighy, unlocked the puzzle of infertility through in vitro fertilisation. Alongside it’s premiere on 15 October at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall during the BFI London Film festival, the feature will also screen with the festival’s 9 U-wide partner venues.

The project comes from the screenplay of Thorne, and the story of Thorne alongside Rachel Mason. The Taylor directorial project is produced by Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, with executive production from Cameron McCraken. Joy will be release in select cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 15 November before launching on Netflix globally on 22 November, 2024.

Images courtesy of Netflix