Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ With Julianne Moore & Paul Giamatti To Close BFI London Film Festival

Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy The Debut, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, has been announced as the closing film of the BFI London Film Festival in October.

The film, which debuts at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, will make its UK premiere at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on October 18.

Oscar winner Moore plays a shy woman who is unexpectedly cast in a local production of an original musical. Under the spell of the strong-willed and enigmatic director (Giamatti), she loses herself in the role and the high-stakes world of this community theatre production.

Moore and Giamatti are joined in the cast by Eisenberg, Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu, Bernadette Peters, Colton Ryan, Lilli Cooper, Maulik Pancholy and Bonnie Milligan.

Eisenberg was last at the London Film Festival in 2024 with A Real Pain, his second feature in the director’s seat. Co-star Kieran Culkin went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the following year.

Lionsgate will release The Debut in the UK on January 15, while A24 has set a December 11 theatrical launch for the U.S.

“I am both honored and honoured to be bringing The Debut to the 70th BFI London Film Festival. What a wonderful thrill to be the Closing Night gala, and I can’t wait to share the incredible performances by the cast with a London audience,” declared Eisenberg in the release announcing The Debut as the closing film.

The 70th London Film Festival runs from October 7 to 18.