Monster hit will open London film festival

The 53-year-old filmmaker, who has two children with long-term partner, actress Helena Bonham Carter, is expected to attend the European premiere in London’s Leicester Square on 10 October, alongside stars of the Disney black-and-white movie, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and Martin Landau.

Frankenweenie, which will be released nationwide on 17 October, will receive a simultaneous premiere in 30 cinemas across the UK, in a first for the festival’s opening night.

The festival will also host The Art Of Frankenweenie exhibition at the Southbank Centre’s Festival Village from October 17-21.

The film, the first animated movie Burton has directed for Disney, is a remake of his 1984 short about a boy and his dog.

Festival director Clare  Stewart said: “Frankenweenie is a  perfect choice of opener – it’s a film that revels in the magic of movies from one of cinema’s great  visionaries.

“Tim Burton has chosen London as his home and hundreds of talented craftspeople have contributed to this production.”

She added: “Funny, dark and whimsical, this gloriously crafted 3D animation from Tim Burton – the reigning prince of outsiders – playfully turns the Frankenstein story on its bolted-on head.”

The BFI London Film Festival runs from 10 to 21 October.