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The 64th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express came to a close tonight 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, which was won by Cathy Brady (WILDFIRE). This year, the Festival Awards were placed in the hands of the audience with all contemporary films presented virtually being eligible. Film critic Rhianna Dillon hosted the ceremony in which Best Film was presented to Thomas Vinterberg for ANOTHER ROUND by director and writer Gurinder Chadha, Best Short Film was presented to Tommy Gillard for SHUTTLECOCK by actress, director and playwright Zawe Ashton, Best Documentary was presented to Benjamin Ree for THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF by author, actor, producer and comedian David Walliams, and Best XR/Immersive Art was presented to Anna West and David Callanan for TO MISS THE ENDING by the Executive Producer of XR immersive art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, Nell Whitley.
Screen International Star of Tomorrow and first-time feature director of WILDFIRE, Cathy Brady, is the winner of 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. Brady, who is from Northern Ireland, was selected as the winner by Grainger-Herr along with Ben Roberts, Chief Executive, BFI, and acclaimed actor, director, screenwriter, producer and poet Michaela Coel. WILDFIRE, which premiered at the LFF on 10th October, tells the story of two sisters whose familial bonds are pushed to breaking point in a simmering drama set on the Irish border. |
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