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George Clooney’s Jay Kelly Premieres at BFI London as Awards Buzz Builds

The London Film Festival bow drew fresh acclaim for Clooney’s performance, fueling early awards chatter.

Overview

  • Noah Baumbach’s ensemble drama, co-written with Emily Mortimer, held its U.K. premiere at the BFI London Film Festival’s Royal Festival Hall with Clooney, Adam Sandler and key cast in attendance.
  • Set across a European journey, the film follows an ageing star confronting the gap between public image and private self, a framework Baumbach says he chose to explore universal questions of identity and regret.
  • Clooney said he drew on elements of his own life to portray Jay Kelly but stressed he is far less unhappy than the character he plays.
  • Sandler, who plays the star’s longtime manager, referenced the work–family trade-offs the story examines, with his performance drawing early awards attention.
  • The film is slated for a limited theatrical release in November before streaming on Netflix beginning December 5.