Burton's Frankenweenie opens London Film Fest

LONDON (AP) - This year's London Film Festival has Ben Affleck, Dustin Hoffman and the Rolling Stones - and it's bookended by one of the city's premiere cinematic couples.

Britain's biggest film showcase opens on Wednesday with the European premiere of London-based American director Tim Burton's Frankenweenie, the animated tale of a boy and his beloved - but dead - dog.

It ends on Oct 21 with Mike Newell's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, which stars Burton's partner, Helena Bonham Carter, as haunted Miss Havisham.

Festival director Clare Stewart said she was happy to be "bracketing the festival with one of London's great love affairs" - the ghoul-loving film-maker and his gothic muse.