The 50th London Film Festival has got under way with the premiere of The Last King of Scotland, about dictator Idi Amin's rule in Uganda.
Stars Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson and James McAvoy attended the Leicester Square launch.
Whitaker has been tipped for an Oscar for his role as the military leader, who took to wearing a kilt and believed he should become king of Scotland.
The festival will show over 180 feature films over two weeks.
Oscar-winning director
The film was based on a best-selling novel by Giles Foden and directed by Oscar-winning film-maker Kevin Macdonald.
Whitaker, who also starred in the movie Panic Room, said: "It's fantastic to be here, making the film was an unbelievable experience."
McAvoy, who plays a Scottish doctor who becomes entangled in the dictator's life, said: "Filming in Uganda affected me personally and I'm going back in January to raise awareness for the work of the Red Cross.
"It was different to any other experience in my life," he added.
Fast Food Nation, Little Children and Shortbus are just some of the other films which will be shown during the international event.
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