Jesse Eisenberg musical comedy closes 70th BFI London Film Festival

Director Jesse Eisenberg and actor Julianne Moore presented the musical comedy film The Debut to close the 70th BFI London Film Festival on Sunday night. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported that the screening took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The film stars Moore as Mona, a neglected housewife who is cast in a community theater production directed by a character played by Paul Giamatti. [1][2][10]

The screening was received warmly with laughter and applause from the audience, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Variety reported that Moore introduced the picture alongside Eisenberg and called it one of the best scripts she had ever read. [1][2]

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa won the Best Film Award in the festival's official competition for his feature Imperium. Variety and Deadline both reported that the jury was led by documentary filmmaker Sam Pollard. The winning film uses footage shot by Italian cameramen to examine the Soviet Union during the early 1970s. [3][4]

Eisenberg is an actor, playwright, and filmmaker. Following the festival conclusion of the A24 film, Deadline reported that Eisenberg is preparing a new television series with studio A24 and producer Peter Rice. [6][9]