Cannes award-winning drama, starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, to receive UK premiere.

Foxcatcher has been secured by the 58th BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19) for the American Express Gala.

The film will receive its UK premiere on Oct 16 at the Odeon Leicester Square, attended by director Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) and stars Steve Carell and Sienna Miller.

Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between eccentric multimillionaire John du Pont (Carell) and champion wrestlers Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and his brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo).

Miller won the best director prize at Cannes, where the film received its world premiere in May.

Miller said: “I’m thrilled that Foxcatcher will be playing the LFF and I’m thrilled to be attending. I suspect Britons will have a special relationship with this film.” 

Clare Stewart, BFI London Film Festival Director, called the feature “one of the year’s most powerful and important films”.

Following its success in Cannes, the film is likely to feature heavily during awards season and will screen at Telluride this weekend and Toronto on Sept 8.

Entertainment One UK release the film in UK cinemas on Jan 9, 2015.

The film is an Annapurna Pictures production presented by Sony Pictures Classics in association with Likely Story; produced by Megan Ellison, Bennett Miller, Jon Kilik and Anthony Bregman, with executive producers Chelsea Barnard, Ron Schmidt, Mark Bakshi, Michael Coleman, Tom Heller and John P. Giura, and co-producer Scott Robertson.

The full LFF programme will be announced next Wednesday (Sept 3).