Angelica Huston with Tahar Rahim, winner for A Prophet
Last night’s award ceremony proved to be a high-profile affair with the festival giving away accolades for Best Film (the first time the BFI have offered such a prize), The Sutherland award for ‘original and imaginative first feature screening’ and the gong for Best British Newcomer.
The Best Film shortlist was comprised of Balibo, Bright Star, Fantastic Mr Fox, MICMACS, The White Ribbon, A Prophet, A Serious Man and The Road, decided by an impressive Jury that boasted Angelica Huston as head Juror and also featured Charlotte Rampling, Jarvis Cocker and Brit director Iain Softly. While much of the award buzz had concentrated on the Jury leaning in favour of the only Brit contender (Sam Taylor-Wood for Nowhere Boy), the surprise recipient was superb French prison drama A Prophet. The award was picked up by actor and star of the film newcomer Tahar Rahim, who couldn’t stop smiling. Expect big things for Rahim, he’s currently shooting with director Kevin MacDonald on his latest The Eagle of the Ninth.
In other categories, the Sutherland award went to young directors Yaron Shani, an Israli, and Shahir Kabaha, a Palestinian, for their gripping crime drama, Ajami, set in the occupied territories. While screenwriter Jack Thorne picked up the prize for Best British Newcomer for his screenplay for Brit drama, The Scouting Book for Boys, which sees This is England actor Thomas Turgoose star in a bleak coming-of-age drama.
With sufficient amounts of champagne flowing and with support from an high-profile film talent, the festival has set the stage for an influential and promising award ceremonial each year, that should be a worthy note to the international festival circuit.
