Mangrove, directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen will open this year’s BFI London Film Festival on 7th October.

The film, starring Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes and Malachi Kirby, is part of the Small Axe series created by McQueen for the BBC.

Mangrove tells the true story of the Mangrove 9, the group of Black activists who clashed with London police during a protest march in 1970 and their highly publicised trial that followed. The trial was the first judicial acknowledgment of behaviour motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.

This year, Festival audiences are being be invited to book tickets to preview the film for free at venues across the UK. The Festival will run from 7th-18th October.

The majority of this year’s LFF will be delivered as virtual premieres. The full LFF line-up will be announced on 8th September.