Klara and the Sun premieres in London ahead of 23 October release

Taika Waititi's Klara and the Sun premiered at BFI Southbank in London, England, on Thursday 15 October 2026 as part of the 70th BFI London Film Festival, Deadline reported.

The festival screening came eight days before the film's planned cinema release on 23 October via Sony Pictures Releasing. That release starts its theatrical run, the period when a film plays first in cinemas.

The cast led the carpet. Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Aran Murphy, Natasha Lyonne and Rachel Foreman appeared at the premiere, with photos published by Deadline. Waititi also attended, alongside guests Florence Pugh and Rita Ora.

Waititi directed the film and co-wrote it with Dahvi Waller. It is based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. Ortega plays Klara, an android acquired as a companion, while Adams plays Chrissie, the mother of a girl named Josie, and Murphy plays Rick, Josie's best friend.

The story imagines a dystopian science-fiction future without the internet, as described ahead of release by Yahoo News. The book's set-up follows Klara as she watches humans from a shop window and learns about attachment and choice.

The festival context is large. The 70th edition was scheduled to run for 12 days from 7 to 18 October and present 251 titles, according to the BFI. Festival listings placed the premiere screening at 20:45 at Southbank Centre, with a second screening at the Royal Festival Hall at 14:45 on Friday 16 October.

For fans, this means the wait is short. The London premiere closes the festival showcase, and the general audience gets its turn from 23 October.