LFF goes competitive with more awards

by Naman Ramachandran

10/09/2009 - The The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival (LFF, October 14-29) has introduced a Best Film Award and a Best British Newcomer Award in addition to its existing Sutherland Trophy for best first feature and the Grierson Award for best feature documentary. In addition, the BFI Fellowship will be conferred upon two people.

There are 191 features and 113 shorts, including 15 World, 23 European and 146 UK Premieres. Book-ending the festival are Wes Anderson’s UK-produced Fantastic Mr Fox and Sam Taylor-Wood’s Nowhere Boy [trailer] with the Centrepiece Gala being Jane Campion’s Bright Star [trailer].

Highlights of the New British Cinema strand include Penny Woolcock’s 1 Day [trailer], David Morrissey’s Don’t Worry About Me, Lindy Heyman’s Kicks [trailer] and Rachid Bouchareb’s London River [trailer].

The Film on the Square strand features Malcolm Venville’s 44 Inch Chest [trailer], Stephen Poliakoff’s Glorious 39 [trailer] (both UK) and Gaspar Noe’s Enter the Void [trailer] and Catherine Breillat’s Bluebeard [trailer] (both France). Galas include Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s MICMACS [trailer] and Mia Hansen-Love’s Father of My Children [trailer, film focus] (both France).

Other highlights include the LFF’s first ever Archive Gala - the BFI’s new restoration of Anthony Asquith’s Underground, masterclasses with Jacques Audiard and Andre Téchiné whose A Prophet [trailer, film focus] and The Girl on the Train [trailer] are playing at the festival and panel discussion Maestri & Multiplexes: Italian Cinema Now, in association with Film Italia.

LFF Artistic Director Sandra Hebron said, “I’m delighted that we have such a strong and varied programme this year, presenting new work from some of the world’s most renowned directors alongside films from exciting new talents, and showcasing creativity and imagination from around the world.”