[Little White Lies] 15 Films To See At The BFI London Film Festival 2013

Only Lovers Left Alive (Jim Jarmusch) – Cult

Directed by Jim Jarmusch, this love story between vampires Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston is what would play if there was an indie heaven, projected inside a giant coffin made of upcycled lace. Expect gothic imagery, grand emotion, genre riffing and an offbeat tone. The translucent and talented Mia Wasikowska is in the mix as a sisterly spanner in the works.

12 Years A Slave (Steve McQueen)

The third collaboration between director Steve McQueen and his star Michael Fassbender sounds as ambitious as Hunger andShame while also treading new storytelling ground. Fassbender plays the villainous plantation boss Epps, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon, a slave struggling for dignity. McQueen regulars DoP Sean Bobbitt and editor Joe Walker are present to ensure a visually engaging ride.

We Are The Best! (Lukas Moodysson) –  Sonic

Swede Lukas Moodysson has had a curious career. Emerging 15 years with the smalltown comic delight Show Me Love he was hailed as the new Ingmar Bergman before disappearing into a cinematic no-man’s land. Early buzz around We Are The Best!suggests this coming-of-ager about two punk-loving adolescents in the ‘80s is return to what Moodysson does best.

The Double (Richard Ayoade)

Richard Ayoade’s second feature film is about a man driven wild by a doppelganger. Jesse Eisenberg plays Simon, a downtrodden office clerk besotted by colleague Hannah (Mia Wasikowska). A descent into madness is prompted by the appearance of a confident and successful double. Adapted from a Dosteyevsky novella, we’re expecting endearing, Submarine-like touches to find their way into this psychologically fearsome premise.

Under The Skin (Jonathan Glazer)

Scarlett Johansson plays an alien femme fatale in this adaptation of Michel Faber’s eerie and humanity-hating sci-fi novel. With Birth director Jonathan Glazer at the helm, its Glasgow setting never seemed so grim. Under the Skin has been bowling over all at Venice even as critics struggle to pierce the heart of this strange and haunting story. Read our review from the 2013 Venice Film Festival.

Tom At The Farm (Xavier Dolan)

Precocious 24-year-old French-Canadian Xavier Dolan has been very busy since he made his name with Heartbeats in 2010. Hipster soundtracks, stylised cinematography and self-casting ( you would if you looked like the male Helen of Troy) have divided audiences but early word on Tom at the Farm is this taut relationship drama dealing with sexuality will impress beyond Dolan’s usual (adoring) fanbase. Read our review from the 2013 Venice Film Festival.

The Armstrong Lie (Alex Gibney)

Alex Gibney is rapidly emerging as the most important documentarian of his generation, shedding light wherever there is murk. His muscular investigative style is brought to cycling superstar turned dope-scandalee, Lance Armstrong. Expect great access, clear storylines and a forceful drive towards truth.

Exhibition (Joanna Hogg) –  Dare

We do so love the well-observed civil awkwardness of Joanna Hogg's previous films, Unrelated and Archipelago. Long shots, stilted dialogue and a pathetic desire to stay polite even as sucked down by emotions are her calling cards. This third time round, Tom Hiddleston (Hogg’s good friend and regular collaborator) is in a supporting role while Viv Albertine and Liam Gillick play the lead artist couple dealing with the domestic furore of selling the house.

Half A Yellow Sun (Biyi Bandele) – Dare

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie won the Orange Prize for Fiction with his 2006 novel about two sisters, Olanna and Kainen, trying to live a full life on the cusp of the Nigerian Civil War of the '60s. With Thandi Newton playing Olanna and Chiwetel Ejiofor (hi again) as her husband, Odenigbo, this adap promises to bring the war of a flailing relationship to the fore just as much as the actual impending war.

Locke (Steven Knight) –  Journey

Would you like to be locked in a car with Tom Hardy for 90 minutes? It's not for everyone, but The Hard man’s performance has been praised to the hilt in this single character study of a life unraveling across the length of a car journey.

Enough Said (Nicole Holofcener) – Laugh

Sadness rocked the industry in June when it was announced that James Gandolfini died of a heart attack at the age of 51. Enough Said was his penultimate film (Animal Rescue, out next year, was his last) and he’s got serious female acting cahoonas keeping him company. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Catherine Keener and Toni Colette help to rock this mid-life-crisis rom-com.

Gone Too Far (Destiny Ekharaga) – Laugh

British/Nigerian comedian/director Destiny Ekharaga is one to watch according to festival programmer, Clare Stewart. Her first feature is a comedy set over the course of a single day in Peckham, south London. Family, loyalty and race are among the themes.

La Belle et la Bête (Jean Cocteau) – Love

At last year’s LFF, David Lean’s four hour masterpiece, Lawrence of Arabia was among the highlights. This year’s archival treasure of note is a restoration of Jean Cocteau’s 1946 gothic love story.

Norte, The End of History (Lav Diaz) –  Dare

Filipino auteur Lav Diaz favours epics, meaning this sub four-hour drama is the perfect (comparatively) tame entry point for the uninitiated. Loosely based on Dostoevsky’s (hi again) classic 1886 novel, 'Crime and Punishment', Diaz transplants the action to the Philipines where lush imagery takes the place of bleak Russian streets.

The Congress (Ari Folman) –  Cult

This follow-up to Waltz With Bashir takes on the revealing subject of ageing from the perspective of a Hollywood actress. Robin Wright plays... Robin Wright, who sells her digitised image to Miramount Studios. Blending live action and animation, The Congress looks like it could take satire to a whole new form-pushing plain.

For more information on the 57th LFF and to book tickets visit bfi.org.uk/lff