The 67th BFI London Film Festival is set to begin on October 4th, and the juries for the various competitions have recently been announced. Leading the official competition jury is the acclaimed Mexican director, producer, and screenwriter Amat Escalante. Escalante is no stranger to recognition, having won the best director honor at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for his film “Heli,” as well as the Silver Lion for Best Director in Venice in 2016 for “The Untamed.” At this year’s London Film Festival, Escalante’s latest feature, “Lost in the Night,” will be screened as part of the Thrill Strand.
Joining Escalante on the main jury are Kate Taylor, program director of the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Niven Govinden, the English novelist and author of “Diary of a Film.” Together, these three industry professionals will have the responsibility of judging the films in the official competition.
The official competition features a diverse lineup of films, including “Baltimore” by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, “Dear Jassi” by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, “Europa” by Sudabeh Mortezai, “Evil Does Not Exist” by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Fingernails” by Christos Nikou, “Gasoline Rainbow” by Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross, “I Am Sirat” by Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja, “The Royal Hotel” by Kitty Green, “Self Portrait: 47 Km 2020” by Zhang Mengqi, “Starve Acre” by Daniel Kokotajilo, and “Together 99” by Lukas Moodyson.
In addition to the main competition, there are other jury selections for different categories. Raine Allen-Miller, a British director known for her work on “Rye Lane,” will oversee the jury for the first feature competition, also known as the Sutherland Award. BAFTA Breakthrough recipient Rubika Shah, the director of “White Riot,” will head up the Grierson Award for Best Documentary jury. Charlotte Regan, the director of Sundance-winning film “Scrapper,” will lead the jury for best short film.
The selection of esteemed filmmakers, curators, and industry leaders joining the festival as jury members has been highly praised. LFF director Kristy Matheson expressed her honor and excitement, stating, “I’m honored to have such esteemed filmmakers, curators, and industry leaders join us in London this year and look forward to the unique perspective that each jury member will bring to the films in competition.”
The BFI London Film Festival will run from October 4th to October 15th. The festival will kick off with the European premiere of Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn.” This year’s festival promises to showcase a wide range of compelling films, with the juries playing a crucial role in recognizing and celebrating outstanding cinematic achievements.
In conclusion, the 67th BFI London Film Festival is just around the corner, and the juries for the different competitions have been announced. These juries, comprised of acclaimed filmmakers, curators, and industry leaders, will have the important task of judging the films in each category. With a diverse lineup of films, ranging from provocative dramas to powerful documentaries, this year’s festival is set to captivate audiences and highlight the best of international cinema. The festival’s opening night, featuring the European premiere of Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn,” is sure to set the tone for an exciting and memorable event.