'Captain Phillips' to open London Film Festival

[August 02, 2013]  LONDON (AP) --  Tom Hanks looks set to have a busy autumn.

Maritime piracy drama "Captain Phillips," in which he stars, is set to open the London Film Festival, as well as cinema fests in New York and Tokyo.

London festival organizers announced Thursday that the Paul Greengrass-directed movie will open its 57th edition on Oct. 9.

"Captain Phillips" is based on the true story of Richard Phillips, commanding officer of the Maersk Alabama, a container ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009.

Phillips offered himself as a hostage to the pirates in exchange for the freedom of his crew and ship.

The London Film Festival runs Oct. 9-20.

"Captain Phillips" will also open the New York Film Festival on Sept. 27 and the Tokyo International Film festival on Oct. 17.

[Associated Press]

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