Anne Hathaway added Hollywood glamour to the red carpet at the London's  2008 film festival

FILM FANS should head to London next month for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival. It runs from 14–29 October and tickets are on sale now. This international event attracts the great names of worldwide cinema to the capital each year and showcases top films from around the globe: from arthouse gems to Hollywood blockbusters. As well as enjoying a bit of star spotting, you can buy tickets for the UK, European and world premières, and, for extra value, tickets for weekday daytime screenings of all the big films on Leicester Square are available for £7. This year's programme has a total of 191 features and 113 shorts as well as special events and guest stars. Last year's guests to the red carpet included Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz and Penelope Cruz, while this year's opening film, Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox, one of the 15 world premières, will be presented by the director and cast members including Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Bill Murray. Other directors travelling to London to introduce their latest work this year include Michael Haneke (Cannes Palme d'Or winner, The White Ribbon), Joel and Ethan Coen (Serious Man), Steven Soderbergh (The Informant), Ang Lee (Taking Woodstock), Jane Campion (Bright Star), and Grant Heslov (The Men Who Stare at Goats). George Clooney will be in London to support his role in The Men Who Stare at Goats, which also features the irresistible line-up of Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges and our own Ewan McGregor. Much to the delight of BRITAIN magazine's assistant editor who's a bit of a fan! Full details of this year's programme and tickets available online at www.bfi.org.uk/lff or tel: (020) 7928 3232.