All Winners of The 67th BFI London Film Festival

Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).

The BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express today announced the winners of this year’s LFF Awards. The competition sections are a celebration of the most exciting, innovative new films and cinematic storytelling; creative, beautiful and often provocative, the films showcase an incredible range of talent from across the world.

The winning films, which were chosen by four LFF juries, explore a fascinating breadth of themes and stories, including a drama about a community fighting to preserve its principles, a spirited tale of siblings enjoying the pleasures and pitfalls of life ‘home alone’, a deeply personal and joyful exploration of a filmmaker’s relationship her mother, and a poetic film that documents the experiences of queer Nigerians.

The winners of this year’s films screening In Competition are:

Winner of the Best Film Award in Official Competition – Evil Does Not Exist (Dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi). The jury commented: “Subtle, cinematic and underscored by fully realised performances, Hamaguchi’s assured drama supersedes the sum of its parts. It is both a lyrical portrait of family and community, and a nuanced consideration of the ethics of land development. Amidst a strong competition the jury is unanimous in our admiration!”
Winner of the Sutherland Award in the First Feature Competition – Paradise Is Burning (Dir. Mika Gustafson). The jury commented: “What a journey. Not only was this a remarkable first feature, but a film that in its own right has such clarity of cinematic language and vision. It’s compelling universe was so complete and effortlessly executed. Nothing has been left untended to in this film, we were THERE, not like a fly on the wall or an intruder; it held us in its arms and it didn’t let us go.”
Winner of the Grierson Award in the Documentary Competition – Bye Bye Tiberias (Dir. Lina Soualem). The jury commented: “In Bye Bye Tiberias, Lina Soualem has woven an elegant exploration of three generations of women in her family and the places that made them. She has created a poetic and intimate film that transcends the borders of their family home, to interrogate grief, identity, and the energy that propels you to find yourself.”

Winner of the Short Film Award in the Short Film Competition – The Archive: Queer Nigerians (Dir. Simisolaoluwa Akande).
The jury commented: “The Archive: Queer Nigerians takes the viewer through many emotions, it’s visually stunning and poetic in the way that it weaves together documentary and experimental styles. The subjects were held up in a positive and empathetic light through raw and intimate interviews, highlighting their vulnerability while also celebrating the joy of being your true self. A special mention is given to Area Boy for its accomplished and confident directing. The jury look forward to seeing what Iggy London does next.”

This year’s jury presidents were: Amat Escalante (Official Competition), Raine Allen-Miller (First Feature Competition), Rubika Shah (Documentary Competition) and Charlotte Regan (Short Film Competition).