This year's Times BFI 51st London Film Festival's programme boasts seven world premieres among films from 43 countries.

The event opens on Oct 17 with the UK premiere of David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts, with Wes Anderson's eagerly awaited The Darjeeling Limited closing the festival on Nov 1.

Robert Redford's political thriller Lions For Lambs starring Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise is among the World premieres. The others are:

  • English Surgeon (Russian Roulette With Two Revolvers) (Geoffrey Smith)
  • Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go (Kim Longinotto)
  • In Prison My Whole Life (Marc Evans)
  • Unrelated (Joanna Hogg)
  • Jetsam (Simon Welsford)
  • Andres And Me (Andrea Adriatico).

There are also 29 European and 128 UK premieres.

UK films on show include Penny Woolcock's Exodus,Garth Jennings' Son Of Rambow: A Home Movie, Nick Broomfield's Battle For Haditha along with Far North by Asif Kapadia and Richard Attenborough's Closing The Ring.

Film-makers to attend the festival include Wes Anderson, Laura Linney, Steve Buscemi, Harmony Korine, Robert Rodriguez and Paul Greengrass.

Among other highlights, David Lynch and 60s folk singer Donovan will host a session on 'meditation, consciousness and creativity.'

Festival artistic director Sandra Hebron said: 'In a very strong year for world cinema, we are delighted to be able to present such a wide ranging and high-quality programme of films and special events, in which work by internationally renowned directors sits comfortably alongside that from many exciting new talents.'

Ang Lee, Julian Schnabel, Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Asif Kapadia, Halle Berry, Sean Penn and Todd Haynes are scheduled guests.

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