Movie - 'The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister', a new BBC Two drama about an early 19th century Yorkshire landowner, industrialist, traveller and prolific lesbian diarist, is set to open the 24th BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (LLGFF). The film will get its world premiere on Thursday 17 March.
As an early 19th century woman, Anne Lister wrote in symbols and metaphor that have taken 150 years to fully decipher, she poured out her emotions and the passions she felt for the women in her life in coded journals which form the basis of this true story.
Brian Robinson, Senior Programmer LLGFF: "It's great to be opening the festival with the World Premiere of a new British film. James Kent has taken the thrilling story of Anne Lister and revealed the hidden history of a lesbian pioneer whose secret journals in code form the basis for this rare insight into same-sex love at this early date. Maxine Peake gives a vibrant performance and is supported by a superb cast."
James Kent, Director: "Anne Lister reminds us how passion and self-belief is the stuff of life. As a director it was inspirational to find Anne so alive in the script - her taste for real danger, self-destruction and bloody-minded triumph shone through."
The drama, directed by James Kent and written by Jane English, stars Maxine Peake (Criminal Justice) as Anne Lister, with a superb supporting cast including Anna Madeley (Affinity), Susan Lynch (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) and former Coronation Street favourite, Tina O'Brien. Next to opening the LLGFF, the drama is currently also scheduled for transmission on BBC Two in late spring.
The London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is the largest lesbian and gay film festival in Europe. The 2010 programme features award-winning titles from the world's leading festivals (Berlin, Cannes and Toronto) alongside some key world premieres. Documentaries continue to form an important part of the programme and archive rediscoveries include performances by Dusty Springfield (many unseen since original transmission) alongside rare TV drama.
For more info, take a look on www.bfi.org.uk/llgff
