The BFI London Film Festival has named Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly its Cunard Gala selection, setting the film’s UK premiere for October 10 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall during the festival’s October 8–19 run. Festival materials say Baumbach and cast are expected to attend. The comedy-drama follows a veteran movie star, played by George Clooney, and his loyal manager (Adam Sandler) on a European journey that forces both men to reassess careers, relationships, and legacies.
Organizers framed the choice as a homecoming for the production, which filmed, edited, mixed, and recorded its score in London; Baumbach said being included at London “feels like a homecoming even for this New Yorker.” The festival’s director praised the film’s blend of emotional candor and humor, signaling a red-carpet centerpiece built around an ensemble that also features Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, and Riley Keough.
Jay Kelly arrives in London with momentum from its world premiere in main competition at the Venice Film Festival, where public and press screenings are slated for August 28 and 29. The festival listing confirms key creatives including cinematographer Linus Sandgren and composer Nicholas Britell, aligning the project with Baumbach’s recent collaborations on prestige titles.
The BFI notes a staggered roll-out after the fall circuit: a UK and U.S. theatrical opening on November 14, followed by a global streaming release on December 5. With Venice, London, and a stateside corridor lined up, the film enters awards season positioned as both a marquee star vehicle and a reflective road movie about fame and friendship—an emphasis echoed in official synopses and recent feature coverage. Ticketing windows for the London festival open to members on September 16, with the full program unveiling September 3.
