31/10/2008

The Times BFI London Film Festival (LFF) closed with a rapturously received screening of Danny Boyle’s kinetically charged paean to MumbaiSlumdog Millionaire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danny Boyle
film profile], but it was Sergey Dvortsevoy’s Tulpan [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] that took home the festival’s ultimate honour, the Sutherland Trophy.

The Sutherland Trophy is awarded to the director of the most original and imaginative first feature film screened at The Times BFI London Film Festival. The Jury, headed by former winner Asif Kapadia (The Warrior) said, “A masterpiece: both intimate and epic, a film full of life and ideas. An extraordinary feat of artistic endeavour in its depiction of man’s interaction with nature, Tulpan has an exhilarating blend of humour, emotion, and audacious visuals.”

The 11th FIPRESCI International Critics Award Winner was Three Blind Mice directed by Matthew Newton. Victoire Terminus, directed by Renaud Barret and Florent De La Tullaye, won the Times BFI London Film Festival Grierson Award for Best Feature Length Documentary.

Gianni di Gregorio’s Mid-August Lunch [+see also:
trailer
film profile] won the 13th Annual Satyajit Ray Award while the TCM Short Film Award Winner was Leaving, directed by Richard Penfold and Sam Hearn.

In terms of numbers, the 2008 edition was the most successful yet with over 120,000 people attending 191 feature films and 109 short films from 43 countries, including a record 15 world premieres. There were 398 screenings and 537 visiting international filmmakers and a record number of 1096 industry professionals.

LFF Artistic Director Sandra Hebron said, “It has been a pleasure to welcome so many talented directors, actors, writers and producers to London to present their work, and gratifying that our audience figures are the highest ever.”