The 56th New York Film Festival opened on Sunday 28th September with director Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite starring Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone and Olivia Colman, who recently won the award for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her role in the film.
The Favourite. Fox Searchlight.

Ahead of the New York premiere our man in New York James Kleinmann attended the NYFF press conference with cast in attendance including Joe Alwyn, Nicholas Hoult, Olivia Colman and Emma Stone, along with director Yorgos Lanthimos and co-writer Tony McNamara. There was also a brief appearance by Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell who swapped seats with Nicholas Hoult to answer a question about her work on the film.

The cast and filmmakers talk about the humour in the film, the meaning of the title, working with the animals on set, what it was like to see the finished film for the first time, focusing more on the characters than historical facts and the modern day elements that the film incorporates.

The Favourite. Fox Searchlight.

Here’s the full NYFF press conference for The Favourite.

The Favourite plays the BFI London Film Festival later this month and will be released in US cinemas on 23rd November with a UK theatrical release slated for 1st January 2019.

Synopsis

In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne (Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Weisz) governs the country in her stead. When a new servant Abigail (Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah.