The 64th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express came to a close last night with a virtual ceremony announcing the winners of the inaugural Virtual LFF Audience Awards, and the prestigious IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary winner, in association with the BFI.
This year, the Festival Awards were placed in the hands of the audience with all contemporary films presented virtually being eligible.
The virtual ceremony saw Best Film presented to Thomas Vinterberg for ANOTHER ROUND, Best Short Film presented to Tommy Gillard for SHUTTLECOCK, Best Documentary presented to Benjamin Ree for THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF, and Best XR/Immersive Art was presented to Anna West and David Callanan for TO MISS THE ENDING.
Screen International Star of Tomorrow and first-time feature director of WILDFIRE, Cathy Brady, received the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award in association with the BFI. The £50,000 Bursary, which awards an outstanding first or second time UK writer, director, or writer/director presenting work at the BFI London Film Festival, was presented by Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
WILDFIRE, which premiered at the LFF on 10th October 2020, tells the story of two sisters whose familial bonds are pushed to breaking point in a simmering drama set on the Irish border.
