London fest slots two

Leigh's, Russell's latest sked U.K. preem
By ARCHIE THOMAS

Posted: Fri., Aug. 27, 2004, 8:48am PT

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LONDON -- The Times London film fest will open with the U.K. preem of Mike Leigh's "Vera Drake" on Oct. 20 and close Nov. 4 with the international bow of David O. Russell's "I Heart Huckabees."

"Vera Drake" stars Imelda Staunton as an abortionist whose beliefs and practices clash with the mores of 1950s England. It is set for an early 2005 release by Momentum Pictures.

"I Heart Huckabees" is a comedy about an unconventional husband and wife detective team with Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts, Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman. Fox will release the pic in Blighty.

Fest artistic director Sandra Hebron pointed to the open- and closing-night filmmakers' shared "humanism, clarity of vision and desire to make films about the way we live."

The full lineup for the 48th edition of the fest will be unveiled Sept. 15.

Links posted in this story:

Cannes Film Festival,

David O,

Frost/Nixon,

Jude Law,

Lily Tomlin,

Michael Sheen,

Mike Leigh,

Nacido Sin,

Naomi Watts,

The Times,

Two Green Feathers,

Vera Drake,

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