Here are some photos from the BFI London Film Festival premiere of 12 Years a Slave. Michael Fassbender – who is adamant about NOT campaigning for an Oscar – was not there. Neither was Brad Pitt, or Sarah Paulson or Alfre Woodard or Paul Dano or Benedict Cumberbatch (yes, he’s in the film too). The premiere was just director Steve McQueen, our newest fashion girl (and presumptive Best Supporting Actress nominee) Lupita Nyong’o and Chiwetel Ejiofor. I’m including pics of all three.

Lupita wore this little black Christopher Kane dress with metallic accents at the waist and side cut-outs. I have a mostly “meh” feeling about this dress, mostly because Lupita has been so noteworthy and fashion-forward thus far. This feels like just some knock-off version of the Herve Leger bandage dress, which is to say… boring and overdone. That being said, if Lupita wants to sartorially phone it in, I’m glad she’s doing it at a venue like the London Film Festival instead of, say, the Golden Globes. Besides, the dress isn’t even that bad. It’s just kind of boring and obvious. From the neck up, she’s still stunning and breathtakingly beautiful.

Chiwetel looks handsome, doesn’t he? I’m completely over those knit ties, but otherwise he looks great. I do sort of wonder if producers (maybe Brad, maybe someone else) are pushing Chiwetel out there on purpose and holding back the supporting stars of the film. This is the second time in a week where Chiwetel and Lupita were pretty much the only standard-bearers for the film at a major premiere. It’s not that anyone involved with the film, white or black, is embarrassed – not at all. But I think the producers are trying to put the focus more on Chiwetel and Lupita. I wonder if that’s where the Oscar campaign money will go too?

Photos courtesy of WENN.