Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson and Steve McQueen have together ushered in the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.

With the world premiere of McQueen’s latest film Blitz opening the fest Wednesday night, fans flocked to the BFI’s Southbank Centre to catch a glimpse of the cast, led by Ronan.

The Academy Award nominee wore a form-fitting white dress with a detailed, silver-buckled belt, and coo-ed over her co-star, 11-year-old Elliott Heffernan, who was shown where and how to pose for the crowd of photographers shouting his name. Stephen Graham, Paul Weller and Benjamin Clementine were among the cast members present.

Shortly before the screening started, McQueen spoke highly of Heffernan and lauded the “stillness” casting directors saw in his tape that landed him the role. “I’m very grateful he exists,” the director said, before Ronan spoke about wanting to make his first film set as welcoming and “fun” as hers (Ronan was just 12 years old when she started in Atonement).

The Apple original film — directed, produced and written by the Oscar winner — follows the journey of 9-year-old George, played by newcomer Heffernan, in London through the Second World War.

He is sent to safety in the English countryside by his mother Rita (Ronan) but is determined to make his way back to East London. As the infamous German bombing campaign concentrates on the U.K. capital, George finds himself battling bombs, thieves and prejudice while a distraught Rita searches for her missing child.

Ronan said there was no way to switch off from the war on set or in preparing for the film’s release given what is happening in Ukraine and the Middle East. She said at the movie’s press conference on Wednesday: “There wasn’t really an escape. You’d put on the news and see exactly the same thing.”

Saoirse Ronan in ‘Blitz.’
The Irish actress also talked about what it was like to be a woman of war. “I’m sure [it was] incredibly trying for these young women,” who stepped into jobs and roles previously filled by men who had to go to war, Ronan said. “So much was expected of them.” But she and the other actresses also realized how the war changed the role of women. “We know how pivotal that moment was for us” and how pivotal a role women played, she said. McQueen added that many war films have simply shown women handing someone a cup of tea.

Meanwhile, McQueen discussed his approach to filmmaking Wednesday afternoon and how his personal history affects it. He said that, as a Black man, he didn’t have any privilege, and therefore was focused on going ahead with his work: “I have to get the fuck on with it.” When asked for advice, he later also told an audience member to stay focused on the work: “Keep going on!”