London Film Festival’s Surprise Movie Is… ‘I Play Rocky’
The BFI London Film Festival’s 2026 surprise film is Peter Farrelly’s *I Play Rocky*, revealed at a Friday evening screening at the Royal Festival Hall. The film dramatises the turbulent making of *Rocky*, the 1976 boxing drama that won three Oscars, including best picture.
Anthony Ippolito stars as Sylvester Stallone, alongside Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell and others. Farrelly said Ippolito was chosen after his casting director sent in an audition tape filmed in his grandmother’s basement, ending a planned nationwide search. The festival’s 70th edition runs until 18 October; *Elsinore* opened it and Jesse Eisenberg’s *The Debut* is due to close it.
- *I Play Rocky* is the 2026 BFI London Film Festival surprise film.
- Anthony Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone in the film.
- The festival runs until 18 October.
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The BFI London Film Festival is an annual event that presents films in venues across the capital. Its “surprise film” is kept secret until a special screening, while the rest of the programme includes opening and closing films announced in advance.
Rocky, released in 1976, is a boxing drama about an underdog fighter and became a major success, winning three Academy Awards, including best picture. Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay and played the lead; I Play Rocky dramatises the film’s difficult production and Stallone’s part in bringing it to the screen.
I Play Rocky is directed by Peter Farrelly, with Anthony Ippolito playing Stallone. The story links a new film to a well-known moment in cinema history, while the festival gives audiences a first look at films they may not yet know.