San Sebastian-winner Blessed, directed by Ana Kokkinos, has been added to the programme at The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival, which opened last week.

The Australian film, which picked up the best screenplay award at the Spanish festival, will receive its British premiere in LFF’s World Cinema section and will be screened on 28th and 29th October.

The film, adapted from the play Who’s Afraid Of The Working Class, stars Frances O’Connor, Miranda Otto, Deborra-Lee Furness and Victoria Haralabidou. The producer is Al Clark.

It follows the lives of seven disaffected youths as they prowl the Melbourne streets late at night, while their mothers wait for them to return home.

International sales are handled by Bankside. Following its San Sebastian success, Bankside is in the process of closing a Spanish deal on the film and will use the London screenings to try to net a UK distributor.

On adding the film to the festival, programmer Michael Hayden said: “We are delighted to be able to complete our programme for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival with this strikingly inventive film.”

It is yet to be confirmed whether Kokkinos will be attending the screenings.