Women will dominate this year's BFI London Film Festival as stars led by Julianne Moore, Hilary Swank and Natalie Portman are joined by a record number of female directors.

The programme unveiled today boasts 57 women directors for the 197 feature films and 112 shorts.

The season includes singer Duffy's acting debut, the new George Clooney, and documentaries on everything from Peter Mandelson to indie label Creation Records.

While the industry is still reeling from the surprise abolition of the UK Film Council, festival organisers stressed this year's home-grown contribution was strong, with new work from Mike Leigh, Anton Corbijn who made Control, and Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing in her feature film debut. Festival director Sandra Hebron said: “We have very good films from some of the most respected elder statesmen and,
as usual, our new British films.”

The Government has pledged to continue Lottery funding and tax breaks so the effect of the Film Council's abolition remains to be seen. The British Film Institute, which runs the festival, the 54th, is not included in the cull.

Ms Hebron said: “This festival does come at a good time. It will give a platform to showcase the fact that the UK is making very
fine films indeed. It's evident there is such an abundant wealth of talent in the UK.”

The programme also includes talks with director Darren Aronofsky — whose new film Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as a ballet dancer —
and actor-turned-director Peter Mullan, with the British premiere of Neds, about gang culture in Seventies Glasgow.

Tickets go on sale to the public on September 27. The BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express, runs from October 13-28.

The Evening Standard is a media partner.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS
The American. British premiere, directed by Anton Corbijn. George Clooney as an assassin. October 16

The Ballad Of Mott The Hoople. World premiere. Chris Hall and Mike Kerry follow the rock band as they reunite after 35 years. October 16

Miral. British premiere. Freida Pinto plays a teenager in post-war Jerusalem in the latest movie from artist/director Julian Schnabel. October 18 West is West. European premiere. Follow-up to Ayub Khan-Din's 1999 hit East Is East. Om Puri, Linda Bassett and Jimi Mistry return. October 19

The King's Speech. European premiere. Colin Firth as George VI with Geoffrey Rush as a speech therapist who helps him overcome a stutter. Helena Bonham Carter too. October 21

Patagonia. European premiere. Singer Duffy's acting debut in a road
movie romance in Chile directed by Marc Evans. October 21

Mandelson: The Real PM? World premiere. Hannah Rothschild's
fly-on-the-wall documentary of the spinmaster. October 24

The Kids Are All Right. UK premiere. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening
as a lesbian couple happily raising two children — until the sperm donor father returns. October 25