Irish talent in spotlight as London Film Festival opens
Andrew Scott stars as Ian Charleson in the opening film, a drama about his final Hamlet performances while living with AIDS.
- The 70th BFI London Film Festival opened Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall with the European premiere of 'Elsinore', starring Irish actor Andrew Scott as Scottish actor Ian Charleson.
- Director Simon Stone's film dramatizes the 1989 true story of Charleson, who performed 'Hamlet' at the National Theatre while battling HIV/AIDS during the AIDS epidemic.
- Co-Starring Olivia Colman as physician Dr. Margaret Johnson, the film has garnered critical acclaim and generated Oscar buzz, receiving standing ovations at festival screenings.
- During a special presentation, Scott introduced real-life individuals portrayed in the film, including Dr. Johnson, and paid tribute to Charleson while calling the role 'the role of a lifetime.'
- Focus Features debuts the film in select U.S. theaters on November 20, 2026, while Studiocanal releases it in U.K. cinemas on January 29, 2027, positioning 'Elsinore' for awards season.
15 Articles
15 Articles
An Emotional Andrew Scott and ‘Elsinore’ Kick Off a Starry 2026 London Film Festival
The Irishman was joined by co-stars Olivia Colman, Luke Thompson, Billie Piper and Johnny Flynn, as well as the real-life influences on Ian Charleson's life before his death from AIDS in 1990.
London Film Festival Opens With ‘Elsinore’ Homecoming Screening
The 2026 BFI London Film Festival opened Wednesday evening with a passionate homecoming screening of Simon Stone’s buzzy awards season frontrunner Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott. Stone was present at the screening with his cast, including Scott, Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, and Johnny Flynn. The film’s wider cast features Luke Thompson, David Dawson, Monica Dolan, Matthew Beard, Joe Locke, Georgie Glen, Sadie Soverall, Adeel Akhtar, Dickie Bea…
London Film Festival Hails the ‘Great Andrew Scott’ as ‘Elsinore’ Opens 70th Edition With Tears, Cheers and ‘The Ethel Merman Disco Album’
The 70th BFI London Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday with the European premiere of “Elsinore,” a movie that, as the credits rolled, left large swathes of the audience at the Royal Festival Hall wiping away tears. But just moments later, as the name of lead star Andrew Scott appeared on stage, the loud snuffles were replaced with whoops and, in rather uncharacteristically British style, a standing ovation for the actor. Directed by Simon St…
Searing AIDS drama 'Elsinore' opens London film festival
Directed by Simon Stone ("The Dig"), it raises the curtain on the 2026 festival which showcases 251 films from 88 countries until October 18. Set in the late 1980s as the AIDS epidemic is beginning to ravage London's gay community, Scott plays actor Ian Charleson, who had been acclaimed for his role in the 1981 Oscar-winning "Chariots of Fire", as he rehearses for "Hamlet" at London's National Theatre. He confides to the play's director that he …
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