The 56th BFI London Film Festival will open on Wednesday 10 October with the European premiere of Disney’s Frankenweenie, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tim Burton.

In a first for the festival, Frankenweenie will receive a simultaneous premiere in 30 cinemas nationwide, with audiences across the UK able to enjoy footage from the red carpet at Odeon Leicester Square prior to the screenings.

Frankenweenie is a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life – with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A visually stunning black and white, stop-motion animated film in 3D, Frankenweenie features a voice cast which includes Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder. Disney will release the film in the UK on 17 October.

Tim Burton, Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Producer Allison Abbate and Executive Producer Don Hahn are expected to attend the festival.

The festival will also host The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition, which runs from 17 to 21 October at Southbank Centre’s Festival Village, and will be free to the public.

Clare Stewart, BFI Head of Exhibition said of her first Opening Night choice as Festival Director:

“Funny, dark and whimsical, this gloriously crafted stop-motion 3D animation from Tim Burton – the reigning prince of outsiders – playfully turns the Frankenstein story on its bolted-on head. 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 city and hundreds of talented British craftspeople have contributed to this production. To host the European Premiere, to present The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition and to take our Opening Night out to 30 screens means we are making the Festival even more accessible for film fans across the UK.”

The 56th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express, runs from Wednesday 10 October to Sunday 21 October. The full programme will be available to browse online at bfi.org.uk/lff from Wednesday 5 September.