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Brendan Fraser’s latest film, the comedy-drama Rental Family, has been chosen as the American Express Gala screening at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. The screening will take place on Thursday, October 16, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with director and co-writer Hikari and Fraser expected to attend. The announcement positions the film as one of the festival’s most high-profile events, adding further anticipation for its upcoming release.
Directed and co-written by Hikari, known for the Netflix hit Beef and the acclaimed 37 Seconds, Rental Family features a cast that includes Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto. The story is set in modern-day Tokyo and centers on an American actor, played by Fraser, who is struggling to find purpose in his life. His circumstances change when he takes an unusual job at a Japanese “rental family” agency, a business where people can hire stand-in relatives to fill roles in their lives. As Fraser’s character steps into the lives of strangers, playing everything from a brother to a father figure, he starts to form unexpected, genuine connections. Those bonds blur the lines between performance and reality, pushing him to confront the moral complexities of his work and ultimately helping him rediscover purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
Produced by Eddie Vaisman, Julie Lebedev of Sight Unseen, Hikari, and Shin Yamaguchi, Rental Family is already generating buzz thanks to the emotional range of its premise and Fraser’s reputation for delivering heartfelt, deeply human performances. Following his Oscar win for The Whale, this marks another major role for Fraser in a film that blends humor, warmth, and emotional resonance. Searchlight Pictures will release Rental Family in UK cinemas in January 2026.
Festival Director Kristy Matheson praised the selection, saying, “Following the acclaimed 37 Seconds and the subversive, roller coaster ride of Beef, we are excited to bring writer-director Hikari’s latest comedy-drama Rental Family to the BFI London Film Festival as our American Express Gala. Brendan Fraser is set to steal movie fans’ hearts once more with his stunning central performance in a film that explores the complexity of human relations with huge generosity and wit.”
The full BFI London Film Festival program will be revealed on September 3, adding Rental Family to a roster that promises a rich mix of global cinema. With its high-profile gala slot, the film is poised to be one of the festival’s standout premieres, offering audiences a story that bridges cultures while exploring the universal need for connection.
