Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s “Battle of the Sexes” Set as American Express Gala at BFI London Film Fest

The BFI London Film Festival will be hosting the “Battle of the Sexes.” Deadline confirms that Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s biopic about the famous Billie Jean King v. Bobby Riggs tennis match will make its European premiere as the fest’s American Express Gala on October 7. The directors, stars Emma Stone, Andrea Riseborough, and Elisabeth Shue, and Billie Jean King herself are expected to attend the event at London’s Odeon Leicester Square.

“Battle of the Sexes” presents the historic 1973 tennis match between upcoming star King (Stone) and self-proclaimed sexist Riggs (Steve Carell) — a much-hyped game that would be nicknamed the “the Battle of the Sexes.” The 29-year-old King handily defeated the 55-year-old Riggs in one of the most-watched sports events of all time. King v. Riggs would become a cultural shorthand for women’s rights, especially as they pertain to sports.

In a recent interview with Marie Claire, Stone described playing King as a “game changer.” The Oscar-winning “La La Land” star explained, “I am very nervous to communicate my opinions a lot of the time, especially publicly…[Billie] is so direct and confident in the way that she communicates what she believes is right.” Stone observed, “To be able to step into that was a pretty powerful experience. It’s something that I still don’t feel entirely comfortable with, but it was also one of the great parts about playing her.”

“Battle of the Sexes” opens September 22 in the U.S. and November 24 in the UK. The BFI London Film Festival will be held October 4–15.