The 58th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® is pleased to confirm the addition of a Screen Talk to the Festival Events programme, with The Daily Show host Jon Stewart and political journalist Maziar Bahari discussing the important roles of journalism and satire in upholding freedom of speech.
The Debate Talk will take place on Sunday 12 October at the Vue West End Cinema, at 20.45. This follows the European Premiere of Jon Stewart’s striking directorial debut ROSEWATER at the Odeon West End, at 18.00.
ROSEWATER is based on the real-life ordeal of London-based journalist Maziar Bahari. In June 2009, Bahari (Gael Garcia Bernal) returns to his homeland of Iran to report for the BBC on the elections and to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the prime candidate running against Ahmadinejad. Finding himself embroiled in the maelstrom of unrest that follows Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration, Bahari covers the action from the streets of Tehran, sending footage of the protests back to the BBC. The morning after filing this material, he is arrested by the Revolutionary Guard on a charge of treason and incarcerated in Evin prison where he is held for 118 days. Stewart achieves a superb balance between the plight of the individual and the wider, ethical and political implications of the story. He vividly recreates the events leading up to Bahari’s arrest and powerfully evokes his emotional and intellectual struggle to survive.
The 58th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express runs from Wednesday 8 October to Sunday 19 October. BFI Members’ booking opens 11 September, and Public booking opens 18 September.
Full programme information including films within the Debate strand at www.bfi.org.uk/lff
