Ed Vaizey (Communications & Creative Industries Minister), Amanda Nevill (Chief Executive of the BFI), Clare Stewart (Head of Exhibition at the BFI and Director of the BFI London Film Festival) and Lisa Gregg (Vice President of Consumer Marketing of AMEX), gave short speeches to the assembled crowd of filmmakers, industry delegates and international press.
Guests included producer Jeremy Thomas, director Ben Wheatley, and actors Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Bonnie Wright. The 56th BFI London Film Festival will take place from 10 — 25 October 2012.