Sundance London celebrates female filmmakers with its 2018 line-up

UPDATE: The Sundance Film Festival London has announced three additions to its programme: a special presentation of Paul Schrader's First Reformed; "Films that Made Me", a selection of films that inspired the work of filmmakers Jennifer Fox, Debra Granik, and Desiree Akhavan; and a comedy masterclass led by Eighth Grade director and comedian Bo Burnham.

Tickets are now available to purchase from here.

Sundance Film Festival: London has placed itself on the front line of helping to promote female filmmakers - and offer the equal opportunities they desperately need.

Since not many a cinephile will have had the chance to fly to Utah for this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, the Sundance Institute and Picturehouse are teaming up once more to bring 12 highlights from this year's festival straight to London's silver screens.

Seven of the 12 films are directed by women: the festival will open with the UK premiere of Jennifer Fox's The Tale, starring Laura Dern and Elizabeth Debicki; it will then close with the UK premiere of Leave No Trace, Debra Granik's follow-up to Winter's Bone - the film that first introduced Jennifer Lawrence to the world.

Also set to be featured are Desiree Akhavan's The Miseducation of Cameron Post, the winner of the US Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at this year's Sundance; alongside Skate Kitchen, a film focused on female skateboarders and the narrative debut of The Wolfpack's Crystal Moselle.

The festival will also feature the UK's first chance to watch Hereditary; the horror film that's been branded the "scariest movie in years".

You can check out the full line-up of features films below.

An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn (dir. Jim Hosking) - Lulu Danger's unsatisfying marriage takes a fortunate turn for the worse when a mysterious man from her past comes to town to perform an event called 'An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn For One Magical Night Only’. Principal cast: Aubrey Plaza, Emile Hirsch, Jemaine Clement, Matt Berry, Craig Robinson

Eighth Grade (dir. Bo Burnham) - Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school — the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year — before she begins high school. Principal cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton

Generation Wealth (dir. Lauren Greenfield) - Lauren Greenfield’s postcard from the edge of the American Empire captures a portrait of a materialistic, image-obsessed culture. Simultaneously personal journey and historical essay, the film bears witness to the global boom–bust economy, the corrupted American Dream and the human costs of late stage capitalism, narcissism and greed. Principal cast: Florian Homm, Tiffany Masters, Jaqueline Siegel

Half the Picture (dir. Amy Adrion) - At a pivotal moment for gender equality in Hollywood, successful women directors tell the stories of their art, lives and careers. Having endured a long history of systemic discrimination, women filmmakers may be getting the first glimpse of a future that values their voices equally. Principal cast: Rosanna Arquette, Jamie Babbit, Emily Best

Hereditary (dir. Ari Aster) - After their reclusive grandmother passes away, the Graham family tries to escape the dark fate they've inherited. Principal cast: Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, Milly Shapiro

Leave No Trace (dir. Debra Granik) - A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Oregon, rarely making contact with the world. A small mistake tips them off to authorities sending them on an increasingly erratic journey in search of a place to call their own. Principal cast: Ben Foster, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Jeff Kober, Dale Dickey

The Miseducation of Cameron Post (dir. Desiree Akhavan) - 1993: after being caught having sex with the prom queen, a girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center. Based on Emily Danforth's acclaimed and controversial coming-of-age novel. Principal cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, John Gallagher Jr., Jennifer Ehle.

Never Goin’ Back (dir. Augustine Frizzell) - Jessie and Angela, high school dropout BFFs, are taking a week off to chill at the beach. Too bad their house got robbed, rent’s due, they’re about to get fired and they’re broke. Now they've gotta avoid eviction, stay out of jail and get to the beach, no matter what!!! Principal cast: Maia Mitchell, Cami Morrone, Kyle Mooney, Joel Allen, Kendal Smith, Matthew Holcomb

Skate Kitchen (dir. Crystal Moselle) - Camille's life as a lonely suburban teenager changes dramatically when she befriends a group of girl skateboarders. As she journeys deeper into this raw New York City subculture, she begins to understand the true meaning of friendship as well as her inner self. Principal cast: Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Jaden Smith, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, Kabrina Adams

The Tale (dir. Jennifer Fox) - An investigation into one woman's memory as she’s forced to re-examine her first sexual relationship and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive; based on the filmmaker's own story. Principal cast: Laura Dern, Isabelle Nélisse, Jason Ritter, Elizabeth Debicki, Ellen Burstyn, Common

Yardie (dir. Idris Elba) - Jamaica, 1973. When a young boy witnesses his brother’s assassination, a powerful Don gives him a home. Ten years later he is sent on a mission to London. He reunites with his girlfriend and their daughter, but then the past catches up with them. Based on Victor Headley's novel. Principal cast: Aml Ameen, Shantol Jackson, Stephen Graham, Fraser James, Sheldon Shepherd, Everaldo Cleary

SURPRISE FILM! – Following on from last year’s first ever surprise film, Patti Cake$, Sundance Film Festival: London will again feature a surprise showing. The title will be revealed only when the opening credits roll.

The Sundance Film Festival London runs from 31 May to 3 June.

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