Philomena-Quad-PosterHaving just been announced as the American Express Gala for the 57th BFI London Film Festival, the first poster for Stephen Frears’ upcoming Philomena has now been released.

The movie stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan opposite each other in the leads, and is due to have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival tomorrow.

Falling pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a “fallen woman”. When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena spent the next fifty years searching for him but with no success.

Then she met Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary political journalist who happened to be intrigued by her story. Together they set off to America on a journey that would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena’s son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between Philomena and Martin.

The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss that ultimately celebrates life, showing that there is laughter even in the darkest places.

Coogan is firing on all cylinders with this movie, not only starring opposite Dench in the joint lead, but also co-writing the screenplay with Jeff Pope (Mrs. Biggs), and serving as producer.

Pope and Coogan are adapting the original true-story book by Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.

Philomena will be released in the UK on 1st November, fresh from its UK premiere at the London Film Festival. No word yet on a US release date, but The Weinstein Company have the Stateside rights, and it will be interesting to see where they position it on their already-busy calendar in the coming months. For now, here’s the first poster, in both its quad and portrait variants.