The world premiere of Nowhere Boy, the hotly anticipated debut film from British artist Sam Taylor-Wood, will close The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival.

The film, written by Matt Greenhalgh (Control), tells the story of John Lennon’s childhood. Set in Liverpool in 1955, Lennon is a smart but troubled 15 year old stuck in a clash between his Aunt Mimi and his mother. Trying to escape a family full of secret, he finds rock n’roll and a kindred spirit in a teenage Paul McCartney.

Newcomer Aaron Johnson stars as Lennon with Kristin Scott Thomas playing Aunt Mimi and Anna-Marie Duff as his mother. The cast also features David Morrissey, David Threlfall, Thomas Brodie Sangster who will play the young Paul McCartney, and another newcomer, Sam Bell, takes the role of George Harrison.

Sandra Hebron, the festival’s artistic director, said: We’re delighted to be closing our festival with the first feature by Sam Taylor-Wood, who brings her customary sensitivity and visual flair to this story of the formative years of one of the UK’s cultural icons.”

Taylor-Wood added: “For Nowhere Boy to be chose to close the London Film Festival, in a city I grew up and which continues to inspire me is truly amazing.”

Nowhere Boy is an Ecosse Film production in association with Film4, the UK Film Council’s Premiere Fund, Northwest Vision and Media. Lip Sync Productions and Aver Media. The script was developed with the support of the UKFC’s Development Fund. It will be released through Icon Film Distribution on December 26.

HanWay Films is handling the international rights and The Weinstein Company has US rights.

The festival has already announced that the world premiere of Wes Anderson’s animation Fantastic Mr Fox will open the festival on October 14. The full line-up is due to be announced on September 9.

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