Peterloo, Mike Leigh’s Amazon-backed historical epic, is set to have its U.K. premiere in Manchester as part of the BFI London Film Festival, the first time the festival has premiered a film outside the capital.
The screening, which will be attended by Leigh and members of the ensemble cast (including Maxine Peake and Rory Kinnear), is set to take place on Oct. 17 in Manchester’s HOME theater, and was announced on Thursday, the 199th anniversary of the seismic events depicted in the film.
Peterloo tells the story of the Peterloo massacre, where an estimated 60,000 people at a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St. Peter’s Field in Manchester were attacked by British government forces, resulting in the deaths of 15 and injuries to many more. It became one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history and is considered one of its most defining moments, sparking a national outcry but also further government suppression.
“It’s always an honor to be included in the glorious London Film Festival, but how inspired and generous of the festival to screen Peterloo in Manchester, where it all happened! I’m truly delighted!,” said Leigh, who both wrote and directed the feature.
“In Peterloo, Mike Leigh and his talented cast and crew have delivered a rousing, powerful film of immense scale and ambition,” said Tricia Tuttle, the London Film Festival artistic director. “The festival is thrilled to partner with Entertainment One to host this from the beautiful cinemas at HOME in the heart of Manchester, where the film is set, and to take the premiere out to audiences U.K.-wide through the simulcast.”
Peterloo, which was also backed by Film4, the BFI and Lipsync, is being released across the U.K. by eOne on Nov. 2, with Amazon distributing across the U.S.
The film is due to have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and is also heading to Toronto.
