Simon Stone’s ‘Elsinore’ Starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman to Open BFI London Film Festival

The European premiere of Elsinore, based on the life of Ian Charleson, and directed by Simon Stone (The Dig), will open the 2026 BFI London Film Festival.

Starring in the film are Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers, Ripley, Pressure) and Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Crown, The Lost Daughter), alongside Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, Monica Dolan, Juliet Stevenson, Joe Locke, Adeel Akhtar, Matthew Beard, David Dawson, Kadiff Kirwan, Dickie Beau and Peter Mullan.

Elsinore is a powerful, deeply moving and inspiring true story of the actor Ian Charleson who faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London.

Director of Elsinore, Simon Stone, said, “We couldn’t be prouder to be able to present this quintessentially London film on the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival. Ian Charleson had many of his greatest triumphs on the stages of the West End, at the Young Vic and of course the National, where he ended his short but dazzling career playing an unforgettable Hamlet. We are so lucky to have Andrew Scott, a London Hamlet himself, breathing delicate, inspiring life into this beautiful story. I can’t wait to share it with the hometown audience!”

Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Artistic Director, said, “Anchored by Andrew Scott’s astounding central performance, few films will leave a lasting imprint on audiences this year quite like Elsinore. Stephen Beresford’s script offers a richly drawn world from which Director Simon Stone and his exceptional ensemble of some of the UK’s greatest talents vividly bring the story of renowned actor Ian Charleson to the screen. We could not be prouder to open the 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival with Elsinore, a film that centres community, resistance and the triumph of art.”

Written by BAFTA winner and Golden Globe nominee Stephen Beresford (Pride), Andrea Occhipinti of Lucky Red (Il Divo, Everybody Knows) produces with Gabrielle Tana of Magnolia Mae Films (The Dig, Philomena), along with Pete Shilaimon and Mickey Liddell of LD Entertainment (Jackie, Anthropoid) and Stefano Massenzi and Carolyn Marks Blackwood.

Studiocanal releases Elsinore in UK cinemas on 29 January 2027. Focus Features has acquired Elsinore for the US to release in select theatres on November 20, 2026.

The 70th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 7 October – Sunday 18 October 2026.