Kevin conquers London

by Naman Ramachandran

27/10/2011 - In a glittering ceremony attended by the great and the good of the British and world film industries, Lynne Ramsay’s We Need To Talk About Kevin [trailer, film focus] won Best Film at the 55th BFI London Film Festival.

Best Film Jury Chair John Madden said, “We were simply bowled over by one film, a sublime, uncompromising tale of the torment that can stand in the place of love. We Need to Talk About Kevin is made with the kind of singular vision that links great directors across all the traditions of cinema.”

Actress Candese Reid won Best British Newcomer for her role in Tinge Krishnan’s Junkhearts [trailer]. Chair of the Best British Newcomer jury, Andy Harries said, “Candese is a fresh, brilliant and exciting new talent. Every moment she was on screen was compelling.”

The Sutherland Award that is presented to the director of the most original and imaginative feature debut in the festival went to Argentinian director Pablo Giorgelli for Las Acacias [trailer]. Werner Herzog won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary for Into The Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life.

As previously announced, Ralph Fiennes and David Cronenberg were accorded BFI Fellowships.

Greg Dyke, Chair, BFI said, “The BFI London Film Festival Awards pay tribute to outstanding film talent, so we are delighted and honoured that both Ralph Fiennes, one of the world’s finest and most respected actors and David Cronenberg, one of the most original and ground-breaking film directors of contemporary cinema, have both accepted BFI Fellowships - the highest accolade the BFI can bestow. I also want to congratulate all the filmmakers and industry professionals here tonight, not only on their nominations and awards, but also for their vision, skill, passion and creativity.”