Steve McQueen’s WWII Drama ‘Blitz’ Will Close NYFF 2024

Kate Erbland
·3 min read

After just this week announcing the New York Film Festival’s opening night film (RaMell Ross’ much-anticipated Colson Whitehead adaptation “Nickel Boys”), Film at Lincoln Center has today announced the film that will close this year’s edition: Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” starring Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan. After world premiering at the London BFI Film Festival on October 9, the film will mark its North American premiere on October 10 at Alice Tully Hall.

Per Thursday’s announcement, “Blitz” is “an authentic and astonishing recreation of London during its blitzkrieg by the Germans during World War II, pushes the artistry of Steve McQueen to ever more impressive levels. Working on a vast scale, McQueen sets things at human eye level, telling his original tale from the parallel perspectives of working-class single mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) and her nine-year-old son, George (newcomer Elliott Heffernan), as they become separated within the labyrinth of a city under siege.”

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The film is billed by the festival as “alternately overwhelming and tender” and promises to “offer a multicultural portrait of 1940s London too infrequently seen on screens. While Ronan and Heffernan emotionally match one another beat for beat, the supporting cast, including Kathy Burke, Benjamin Clémentine, Harris Dickinson, Stephen Graham, Hayley Squires, and Paul Weller, is uniformly superb, fleshing out a film that feels positively Dickensian in its scope and storytelling.”

The premiere marks a homecoming of sorts for McQueen, who has previously shown seven of his films at the festival over the years, including the premiere of his debut “Hunger” in 2008, followed by “Shame” in 2011, plus “12 Years a Slave” in 2013, and “Occupied City” in 2023. In 2020, McQueen showed three of his “Small Axe” works, with his “Lovers Rock” serving as the festival’s Opening Night pick.

“It is with immense pride, gratitude, and fondness that I’m able to return to the New York Film Festival with ‘Blitz,’” said McQueen in an official statement. “I’ve been lucky enough to have enjoyed a number of memorable experiences at the festival and with New York audiences, and I’m enormously grateful to have been invited back for Closing Night.”

Added Dennis Lim, Artistic Director, New York Film Festival, “’Blitz’ is a vivid and visceral depiction of life during wartime, a meticulous historical account that resonates unmistakably with our current age of endless war. We are thrilled to welcome back to the festival Steve McQueen, one of the most daring artists at work today, with one of the greatest achievements of his career.”

The NYFF Main Slate selection committee is chaired by Dennis Lim, NYFF Artistic Director, and includes Florence Almozini, Justin Chang, K. Austin Collins, and Rachel Rosen. The 62nd edition of the festival has been extended by a day, and now takes place September 27 – October 14, 2024. More programming announcements are expected in the coming days.

“Blitz” was directed, produced, and written by McQueen, whose Lammas Park produces alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, and Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Michael Schaefer for New Regency, with producers Anita Overland and Adam Somner. New Regency also produced.

An Apple Original Film, “Blitz” will premiere in theaters on November 1 ahead of its global premiere on Apple TV+ on November 22.

Festival passes in limited quantities are on sale now. NYFF62 single tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, September 17 at noon ET, with pre-sale access for FLC Members and Pass holders prior to this date. You can become an FLC Member by August 13 to secure NYFF62 pre-sale access and discounted tickets year-round. NYFF62 Press and Industry accreditation is now open.

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