Bright Lights of the 67th BFI London Film Festival
by Christine Riney

London, October 2023. Was it really London? The weather was warm and it was sunny, a very strange phenomenon. I am struggling to remember over the past nine years when it was such a warm, dry festival. Not a complaint, just an observation. Although I do firmly prefer to enter the dark, cozy escape of the Picturehouse Central, Piccadilly when it's a little less bright and warm outside. Given the weather this would have been the perfect year to watch the red carpet full of stars however the ongoing American actors' union SAG-AFTRA had been on strike which kept them from London this year.

How did the 67th film festival stack up?

Very well indeed! Twelve days of the festival included film screenings, immersive art, a packed BFI YouTube channel, a series of free events and of course the LFF Industry Forum program. There was so much available both online and in cinemas it’s easy to see how the festival reached audiences of 430,550!

With 195,000 attendances in person the festival has achieved the highest number since 2018. There were 252 titles from 92 countries, including 29 World Premieres, 7 International Premieres and 30 European Premieres. The program for the accredited delegates included an extra two weeks of pre-festival screenings, and an online program of about 100 titles.

The list of winners, awarded by the official industry jury, covers much of the globe and represents the pain points of our world today from climate, the Middle East, LGBTQ+, and social welfare.

Best Film Award in Official Competition—EVIL DOES NOT EXIST (Ryusuke Hamaguchi )

When a small village outside of Tokyo realizes their pristine wilderness will be developed into a campsite concern for their immediate environment builds. How will the new development change the community, the tight bonds with each other and nature? Their concern is validated when one of the investors remarks, “A little pollution won’t affect the water.”

This Japanese film will talk to you if you allow the music and cinematography to wash over you. The ecological focus will resonate as we are aware of issues that previous land development have had on communities.

Sutherland Award in the First Feature Competition—PARADISE IS BURNING (Mika Gustafson)

Three young siblings are left to fend for themselves when their mother abandons them. The girls live in a disadvantaged part of Sweden with little money, food, or help. What they do have is each other and the spirit of youth shines through. The spirited world of these three is filled with joy, fierce loyalty as well as a sense of certain undoing that is right around the corner.

This Swedish film will take you along with the three young girls, and you will root for them as they find their paths.

Grierson Award in the Documentary Competition—BYE BYE TIBERIAS (Lina Soualem)

Exploring generational differences in the lives of Palestine women and the choices that made them is both sad and joyful. Looking back at her life, actor Hiam Abbass (Succession, BLADE RUNNER 2049) shares her dream of leaving her village life and all that was expected of her as an Arab woman. Captured through her daughter Lina Soualem’s light touch, we can feel the intimacy as we follow the family to Tiberias, Palestine. A documentary that shares discovery with a sense of identity across worlds divided. Captured on film we will have their experiences for posterity.

Best Short Film Award in the Short Film Competition—THE ARCHIVE: QUEER NIGERIANS (Simisolaoluwa Akande)

Being queer in Nigeria is illegal, basically if you are queer you do not exist. The 25-minute documentary portrays what it is like to be queer and Nigerian. Providing a voice to a section of society that has been denied in their home country. This short is full of imagery that supports the voices of these individuals previously denied.

The London Film Festival Audience Awards, as voted for by those in attendance are:

Best Feature GASSED UP (George Amponsah)

In which a group of teenage boys turn to motorbike crime for survival. Although I have yet to see this film I know all too well the topic, it is discussed often in the UK at present.

Best Documentary THE TASTE OF MANGO (Chloe Abrahams)

The life of three generations of women, the director's grandmother, mother and herself and their story from Sri Lanka to London.

Best British Film/Work FESTIVAL OF SLAPS (Abdou Cisse)

A short film looking at stereotype of a Nigerian mother in London.

Best Immersive Work/XR MURALS (Artists Alex Topaller, Daniel Shapiro and Artem Ivanenko)

An immersive 3D experience shows the devastation of the war in Ukraine with murals created by Banksy.

Next year will be my 10th accredited year, if I am so lucky! Until then have a look at the BFI YouTube channel particularly the Screen Talk with Martin Scorsese who is turning 81 this year, congratulations to him and his amazing film career.

A New App for 2023:

This year for added convenience the industry had an app which showed the full schedule, my festival pass as well as key information including: a list of contacts, links to the online films, and all the press material. All in one place for my scrolling pleasure. It took a bit of time to get the hang of the layout, trial and error but it worked in the end. Perhaps the next new delivery should come with some basic instructions.