Regina King’s highly anticipated directorial debut One Night in Miami will have its UK premiere at this year’s BFI London Film Festival on Sunday October 11th. The Amazon Original film, which was the first by a Black female director to screen at the Venice Film Festival, features an exciting cast fronted by Kingsley BenAdir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr.
On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. When underdog Cassius Clay, soon to be called Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), defeats heavy weight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall, Clay memorialized the event with three of his friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge).
Based on Kemp Powers’ award-winning play of the same name, One Night in Miami is a fictional account inspired by the historic night these four formidable figures spent together. It looks at the struggles these men faced and the vital role they each played in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 1960s. More than 40 years later, their conversations on racial injustice, religion, and personal responsibility still resonate.
One Night in Miami star Kingsley Ben-Adir said: “I’m thrilled that One Night in Miami will screen as part of this year’s London Film Festival. The conversation that takes place between these great men in this movie is as important now as it’s ever been. It’s extra special being at home, in London, celebrating Regina King’s directorial debut and even more poignant that we premiere this film during Black History Month.”
BFI London Film Festival Director, Tricia Tuttle said: “It’s an honor to be presenting the UK premiere of Regina King’s hugely accomplished directorial debut, One Night in Miami. It’s a tour de force combining razor sharp writing from Kemp Powers, four performances of gut-punching power from the male co-leads, including Londoner Kingsley Ben-Adir, and truly impressive direction from King.”
The 64th BFI London Film Festival is taking place from Wednesday October 7th to Sunday October 18th, 2020.