This week the programme for the BFI London Film Festival was announced.

Now I’ve had some time to digest it, here are some of the films I am excited to see. And some of the film makers and stars you’ll see at this year’s event.

The LFF team had already revealed some of the films that we can expect to see:

Opening Film: Widows

Steve McQueen directs a female-led thriller about a group of women dealing with their husbands’ unfinished business. It stars the incomparable Viola Davis alongside Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Colin Farrell and Daniel Kaluuya. McQueen, Davis, Rodriguez, and Kaluuya are all expected to attend.

Closing Film: Stan & Ollie

This is a film I’ve been tracking since it was first announced. Steve Coogan and John C Reilly star as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in this tale of the double act embark on a UK tour. Both stars are expected to join director Jon S Baird at the screening.

The Favourite

Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest has already played Venice, where it’s received positive reviews. Set in the 18th century, the story follows the court of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), and the two women who become rivals do the Queen’s affections. Emma Stone is due at LFF for the third year in a row, alongside co-stars Olivia Colman, Joe Alwyn, Nicholas Hoult, Mark Gatiss and director Lanthimos.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Melissa McCarthy is an audacious literary forger in this true story. Richard E Grant is her drinking buddy who comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. The trailer looks like a lot of fun. Both are expected on the LFF red carpet.

Colette

More literary tales in Colette, about a woman operating in a man’s world. Keira Knightley stars alongside Dominc West and Denise Gough. All are expected.

The Front Runner

This, for me, is the film that is the must-see of this year’s Festival. US politics and Hugh Jackman? You’ll find me at the front of the queue. The story follows Gary Hart’s 1988 US Presidential campaign. Jackman and director Jason Reitman are expcted on the red carpet.

Other films to watch out for:

Ethan and Joel Coen’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. They’ll be joined at the screening  by Tim Blake Nelson and Liam Neeson.

Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell are both expected back at LFF for the gala screening of their drama Beautiful Boy.

Rosamund Pike and Jamie Dornan star in the biopic of The Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvim, killed in 2012 while reporting from Syria. Both are expected to attend the screening alongside co-star Stanley Tucci.

Also watch out for documentaries about Bill Murray and John McEnroe, Robert Redford’s supposed big screen swan song, The Old Man and The Gun, and Aussie comedy The Breaker Uppers (the trailer made me a laugh – a lot!).

This year’s BFI London Film Festival runs 10-21 October.