Artistic Director Tony Earnshaw of the Bradford International Film Festival (BIFF) announced today that Woody Allen’s romantic comedy You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger will open the festival on Mar 16.

With an all-star cast including Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones, Pauline Collins, Ewen Bremner, Anna Friel, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, Lucy Punch and Freida Pinto, Allen tells the story of a pair of married couples who are lead astray by their inner passions.

“We are thrilled to have Woody Allen’s new film open the Festival this year,” said Earnshaw, “We are long time fans of his work and have enjoyed previews of some of his previous films at BIFF including Everyone Says I Love You and Deconstructing Harry. I know our audience will be as delighted as we are to have this early opportunity to see his new film.”

Running from Mar 16-27, the festival will offer an array of features from around the globe and include events with advice on directing, distributing, pitching and networking. The festival will also be a part of a nationwide satellite broadcast of the National Theatre production of Frankenstein for the first time.

As the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, Bradford will promote fresh talent and premiere up to six movies made by independent film makers from the north of England during BIFF’s Northern Showcase strand.