21/10/2013 - Jonathan Asser wins Best British Newcomer for Starred Up at the BFI London Film Festival

Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pawel Pawlikowski
interview: Pawel Pawlikowski
film profile] has won the best film award at the 57^th BFI London Film Festival (October 9-20). Jury president Philip French said, “The jury greatly admired Ida, the first film made in his native Poland by a director who came to prominence while living in Britain. We were deeply moved by a courageous film that handles, with subtlety and insight, a painfully controversial historical situation – the German occupation and the Holocaust – which continues to resonate.”

The award for Best British Newcomer went to screenwriter Jonathan Asser, for his debut feature Starred Up [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Mackenzie
film profile], directed by David MacKenzie. Jury President Amanda Posey said, “Starred Up is an original story told with an individual and authentic voice, at once moving, provocative and always gripping. The whole jury felt Jonathan Asser brought a fresh, resonant and surprising perspective to a classic conflict.”

The jury also highly commended the performances of nominees Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas for their roles in The Selfish Giant [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Clio Barnard
interview: Clio Barnard
film profile].

Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo won the Sutherland Award for first feature. Jury President Elizabeth Karlsen said, “The startlingly assured direction and screenwriting of the winning film surprised us all.”

The Grierson Award for best documentary went to Paul-Julien Robert’s My Fathers, My Mother and Me. Jury President Kate Ogborn said, “As a jury we would like to recognise the bravery of Paul-Julien Robert for taking us on such a personal journey with My Fathers, My Mother & Me. It is a thought-provoking and disturbing film, intimate whilst also raising larger questions of power, parental responsibility and abuse.”