Impossible’ Director McQuarrie to join BFI Action Season

The BFI Southbank is teaming with the London Action Festival for a series of events this fall as part of the org’s “Art of Action” season, running Oct. 21 to Nov. 30.

Christopher McQuarrie, director of the “Rogue Nation,” “Fallout” and “Dead Reckoning” films in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise and Eddie Hamilton, who edited the films, will appear in person on Nov. 8 for a screening of John Frankenheimer’s 1964 film “The Train.” The Oscar-winning filmmaker and Oscar-nominated editor will discuss the film’s influence on their work.

George Miller’s “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” has been selected for the festival’s signature “World’s Greatest Screening Ever (Probably!)” series on Nov. 21. The 1982 post-apocalyptic thriller will be accompanied by a special contribution from Miller himself, along with an in-person appearance by “Mad Max: Fury Road” producer Iain Smith. Smith will discuss his experience producing for Miller and his role in reviving the franchise.

The London Action Festival’s screening series has previously hosted sold-out events including “Die Hard” in 2022, where director John McTiernan settled the debate on whether his film qualifies as a Christmas movie (it does), and “The Italian Job” in 2023, which saw audiences donning English soccer attire while a jazz quartet performed “The Self-Preservation Society.”

The British Stunt Register will take over BFI Southbank on Nov. 16 with demonstrations, talks, panels and workshops showcasing the evolution of their craft over the organization’s 50-year history.

“Christopher McQuarrie and Eddie Hamilton are not just incredible filmmakers, but both passionate and eloquent in equal measure about the subject of cinema,” says London Action Festival co-founder Julian Alcantara.

Fellow co-founder Ron Fogelman notes that “Mad Max 2” remains “a genuine landmark of cinema that remains a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled experience on the big screen” and says the festival aims to create “a powerful communal experience” beyond simply screening films.

The “Art of Action” season, funded through the BFI Film Audience Network using National Lottery money, celebrates action choreography throughout cinema history.