One Night in Miami... (2020)
The BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express is delighted to announce that the UK premiere of Regina King’s highly anticipated directorial debut One Night in Miami will now screen in this year’s programme on Sunday 11 October. The Amazon Original film, which was the first by a black female director to screen at the Venice Film Festival, features an exciting cast fronted by Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr, and is produced by ABKCO Films and Snoot Entertainment. It will be released by Amazon Studios.
On one incredible night in 1964, 4 icons of sports, music and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. When underdog Cassius Clay, soon to be called Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), defeats heavyweight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall, Clay memorialised the event with 3 of his friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge).
Based on Kemp Powers’ award-winning play of the same name, One Night in Miami is a fictional account inspired by the historic night these 4 formidable figures spent together. It looks at the struggles these men faced and the vital role they each played in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 1960s. More than 40 years later, their conversations on racial injustice, religion, and personal responsibility still resonate.
“I’m thrilled that One Night in Miami will screen as part of this year’s London Film Festival,” says Ben-Adir. “The conversation that takes place between these great men in this movie is as important now as it’s ever been. It’s extra special being at home, in London, celebrating Regina King’s directorial debut and even more poignant that we premiere this film during Black History Month.”
“It’s an honour to be presenting the UK premiere of Regina King’s hugely accomplished directorial debut,” says Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Director. “It’s a tour de force combining razor-sharp writing from Kemp Powers, 4 performances of gut-punching power from the male co-leads, including Londoner Kingsley Ben-Adir, and truly impressive direction from King.”
The 64th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express is taking place from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October 2020. Over the 12 days the festival will be its most accessible ever, presenting over 50 virtual premieres and a selection of highly-anticipated new feature film previews at BFI Southbank as well as in cinemas across the UK, offering audiences a unique chance to engage with the festival in different ways.
All tickets will be bookable from Monday 21 September 2020.
One Night in Miami is directed by Regina King and written by Kemp Powers. Produced by Jess Wu Calder, Keith Calder via their Snoot Entertainment productions, as well as Jody Klein with executive producers Regina King, Kemp Powers, Paul O. Davis and Chris Harding.
One Night in Miami will be released by Amazon Studios.