The 69th BFI London Film Festival (8 to 19 October) in partnership with American Express is delighted to announce that this year’s American Express Gala will be the UK premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 16 October, with director Hikari and star Brendan Fraser expected to attend.

Directed and co-written by Hikari (37 Seconds, Beef), Rental Family stars Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman and Akira Emoto. Set in modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection. Rental Family is produced by Eddie Vaisman, Julie Lebedev (Sight Unseen), Hikari and Shin Yamaguchi.

Hikari said: “I feel so humbled and honoured to return to the 2025 BFI London Film Festival with my second feature, Rental Family, and with a gala presentation! While it’s inspired by a real, and sometimes unusual, business in Japan, it’s ultimately about people longing for connection, and discovering the meaning of true friendship in modern Tokyo. I hope Rental Family offers a bit of escapism to Japan and a few laughs!”

Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “Following the acclaimed 37 Seconds and the subversive, roller coaster ride of Beef, we are excited to bring writer-director Hikari’s latest comedy-drama Rental Family to the BFI London Film Festival as our American Express Gala. Brendan Fraser is set to steal movie fans’ hearts once more with his stunning central performance in a film that explores the complexity of human relations with huge generosity and wit.”

Rental Family will be released in the UK January 2026. 

The 69th edition of the BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express will take place in the following venues: 

  • The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall returns as the gala venue
  • BFI Southbank is the home of the competition programme, Screen Talks and LFF for Free events
  • The UK’s biggest screen BFI IMAX will once again host LFF screenings
  • LFF Expanded works will be presented at Marie Rambert Studio, Rambert, BFI IMAX and BFI Southbank
  • Five partner cinemas in London’s West End include Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Soho, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End  
  • Festival venues across the UK include Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Chapter in Cardiff, Glasgow Film Theatre, HOME in Manchester, MAC in Birmingham, Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Showroom Cinema in Sheffield, Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and Watershed in Bristol
  • Press and industry screenings take place at Picturehouse Central 

In addition to UK-wide screenings at the Festival venues, audiences will also be able to explore LFF programmes past and present with a special collection of films on BFI Player.

The 69th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express takes place from Wednesday 8 October to Sunday 19 October, 2025. The full festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 3 September 2025, with tickets on sale from 16 September (BFI Members book early).