The 69th BFI London Film Festival (8th-19th October) in partnership with American Express is excited to announce that this year’s Opening Night Gala will be the eagerly anticipated International Premiere of the Netflix Film WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, by director Rian Johnson at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
Daniel Craig returns to his role of famed private detective Benoit Blanc for his most dangerous case yet. This time around will see Blanc unravelling a brand-new murder mystery in an as-yet-undisclosed setting, surrounded by a colourful new cast of suspects. The ensemble cast, including Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, deliver layered, engaging performances that deepen the story’s intricate web of motives and mysteries. Under Johnson’s direction, each actor finds space to shine, contributing to the film’s dynamic character interplay and tonal precision.
With WAKE UP DEAD MAN, Johnson continues to evolve his singular approach to storytelling, thoughtfully expanding the foundation laid by KNIVES OUT and GLASS ONION. Produced by Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman’s T-Street, this third instalment balances tightly woven plotting with sharp observational humour and deepens the emotional and narrative complexity of the series. His direction reveals a storyteller who reveres the genre’s traditions while confidently reshaping them through his own bold creative lens.
The International Premiere of WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY builds on Johnson’s track record of crafting films that resonate with both audiences and critics and marks a return to the LFF by the popular film series written, directed and produced by Rian Johnson. GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY closed the 66th Festival edition in 2022 to significant fanfare and the first instalment premiered as the 63rd Festival’s AMEX GALA in 2019.
Director/Writer /Producer of WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, Rian Johnson, said: “We’re honoured to be opening the BFI London Film Festival with Wake Up Dead Man. London is the birthplace of the golden age of detective fiction and it’s a thrill to be back!”
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “At this 69th edition of the BFI London Film Festival we are inviting audiences to get their spyglass at the ready as we get back on the case with another deliciously fun mystery from director Rian Johnson and his all-star cast with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Led by Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor, the film features incredible British and international talent on and off screen who bring a sense of play and verve to the screen, to craft a film that twists, turns and will keep audiences guessing to the final frame. The third of the brilliant Knives Out films we have presented at the LFF, we are delighted to reunite for our special Opening Night.”
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY release on Netflix 12 December 2025.
The 69th edition of the BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express will take place in the following venues:
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The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall returns as the gala venue
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BFI Southbank is the home of the competition programme, Screen Talks and LFF for Free events
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The UK’s biggest screen BFI IMAX will once again host LFF screenings
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LFF Expanded works will be presented at Marie Rambert Studio, Rambert, BFI IMAX and BFI Southbank
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Five partner cinemas in London’s West End include Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Soho, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End
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Festival venues across the UK include Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Chapter in Cardiff, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME in Manchester, MAC in Birmingham, Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and Watershed in Bristol
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Press and industry screenings take place at Picturehouse Central
In addition to UK-wide screenings at the Festival venues, audiences will also be able to explore LFF programmes past and present with a special collection of films on BFI Player.
The 69th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 8 October – Sunday 19 October, 2025. The full festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 3 September 2025, with tickets on sale from 16 September (BFI Members book early).