Sci-fi thriller ‘Gravity,’ McQueen’s ’12 Years a Slave’ among line-up at London Film Festival

LONDON – This year’s London Film Festival will feature movies ranging from the Cannes Palme d’Or winner “Blue is the Warmest Color” to “Gravity,” a sci-fi thriller starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.

Other highlights announced Wednesday include the European premieres of Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave,” which stars Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt, and “The Invisible Woman,” directed by Ralph Fiennes, who stars as Charles Dickens.

Organizers said 234 movies and documentaries will be shown over 12 days.

Tom Hanks will feature in both the festival’s opening and closing galas. The opener is “Captain Phillips,” a pirate thriller featuring Hanks, while the closing movie is “Saving Mr. Banks,” in which the actor stars as Walt Disney.

The 57th London Film Festival runs from Oct. 9-20.