The 59th BFI London Film Festival has selected CAROL, Todd Haynes’ beautiful 1950s set drama, as the Festival’s American Express Gala. The film will receive its UK Premiere on Wednesday October 14 at the Odeon Leicester Square, attended by Academy Award® nominated director Todd Haynes and his stars Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett and Academy Award® nominee Rooney Mara.

A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens.

While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) threatens her competence as a mother when Carol’s involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) comes to light. As Carol leaves the comfort of home to travel with Therese, an internal journey of self-discovery coincides with her new sense of space.

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel, The Price of Salt, adapted by Emmy nominated screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, directed by Todd Haynes, CAROL stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy and Sarah Paulson.

The 59th BFI London Film Festival runs from Wednesday October 7 to Sunday October 18, 2015.