Wise Owl Films’ Bruce Springsteen doc, When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain, is to screen as an accompanying piece to the Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere UK gala premiere in London next month.
Ahead of the UK premiere of the new film, the London Film Festival is offering audiences the chance to refresh their memories by watching the BBC documentary on the big screen.
Produced by Leeds’ Wise Owl, the touching and celebratory film, which was made to mark the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s first UK concert, examines the American singer-songwriter’s unique relationship with the UK and his UK fans.
Alongside an exclusive interview with Bruce Springsteen himself, the documentary features contributions from Gurinder Chadha, Harvey Goldsmith, Jon Landau, Sir Michael Palin, Peter Gabriel, Rob Brydon, Stevie Van Zandt and Sting, alongside ordinary fans who recount how hearing and meeting Springsteen changed their lives. The film also reveals the huge impact British music has had on Springsteen’s life and career.
It may have been over fifty years since Springsteen first stepped onto a UK stage, but the 75-year-old US rock icon proved that he’s still “On Fire” at his most recent set of UK dates. Most notably, the star hit the headlines at his opening Manchester gig at Co-op Live, when he launched an impassioned tirade against the current US administration.
Addressing the sold-out Manchester crowd, Springsteen said: “The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock ‘n roll in dangerous times.
“In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.
“Tonight we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!”
Later in the set, the singer struck a more optimistic note, telling the crowd: “The America I’ve sung to you about for 50 years is real,” he said. “And regardless of its faults, is a great country with a great people. So we’ll survive this moment.”
The London Film Festival screening of When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain takes place on Wednesday 15 October 2025, 15:30, at Vue 5. The event is free and open to those aged 15 and over, although first-come first served tickets should be booked in advance on the BFI website – booking opens on Thursday 2 October at 10am.
TheDeliver Me From Nowhere premiere takes place immediately afterwards, at !8:00 the same day, although that is sold out. Tickets for later screenings are still available here.
