OpenAI drama Artificial heads to London Film Festival

Andrew Garfield plays Sam Altman in Artificial, the upcoming drama bringing OpenAI’s rise and boardroom turmoil to the London Film Festival.

The film will have its international premiere on Sunday, October 11, with a 9 p.m. screening at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Simon Rich, Artificial explores the company’s development and the turbulent period when Altman was ousted as chief executive. Its focus includes the human relationships and ethical questions surrounding the people developing artificial intelligence.

Garfield leads a cast that includes Yura Borisov, Monica Barbaro, Mark Rylance and Ike Barinholtz. Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman and Chris O’Dowd also appear in the film, which runs for two hours and 20 minutes and is presented in English.

Andrew Garfield takes on Sam Altman

Artificial brings a recognizable figure from the technology industry into a drama about leadership, responsibility and control.

Garfield’s portrayal of Altman places him at the center of a story in which the company’s ambitions become entangled with a struggle over its direction.

Guadagnino returns to the festival after Queer screened there in 2024 and After the Hunt followed in 2025.

His latest collaboration with Rich turns to the people behind OpenAI, exploring the decisions and tensions accompanying the development of technology with consequences far beyond the boardroom.

Watch the official trailer:

When Artificial screens in London

Artificial forms part of the festival’s Gala programme, with three London screenings scheduled. Following the October 11 premiere, it will screen at Vue West End on Thursday, October 15, at 2:50 p.m., before returning to the Royal Festival Hall on Friday, October 16, at 11:30 a.m.

The 70th London Film Festival runs from October 7 to October 18, 2026. For viewers planning to attend Artificial, the festival’s booking page carries current ticket availability, while additional releases and standby queues may offer further opportunities to see the film.