London - Thursday, 3 November 2005:- Tonight, The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival rounded off a successful two weeks of screenings and events with the award-winning Good Night, And Good Luck. This year's Festival featured 138 UK premieres, 180 feature films and 130 short films from 55 countries, 371 film screenings, an increase of 6% in sold out screenings almost 1500 visiting international film-makers and industry professionals.
There was no shortage of international glamour at the Festival this year. George Clooney , who took time out from shooting in LA to introduce his award winning film Good Night, And Good Luck., was joined on the red carpet by Patricia Clarkson and co-writer of the film Grant Heslov . Fernando Meirelles, Ralph Fiennes , Rachel Weisz and writer John Le Carré braved the rain to attend the Festival Opening Night Gala of their film The Constant Gardener . Cameron Crowe , Kirsten Dunst and Susan Sarandon introduced Elizabethtown to a full house. Gwyneth Paltrow joined John Madden for the screening of Proof, star of Shopgirl, Claire Danes joined director Anand Tucker for the screening of their film and Steve Buscemi , currently rehearsing for a new film in the States, flew in to introduce Lonesome Jim.
Members of the public had the chance to get up close and personal with many of the celebrated Festival guests. Mexican actor Gael García Bernal seduced audiences at his Times Screen Talk, while his latest film The King , directed by James Marsh and co-written with Milo Addica , prompted strong debate at the film's Q&A. Actors Guy Pearce and Danny Huston joined Nick Cave for his screenwriting debut The Proposition , directed by John Hillcoat . Brazilian director Sérgio Machado introduced his film Lower City along with the film's star Alice Braga . Daniel Auteuil conducted an entertaining Q&A about Michael Haneke's extraordinary Hidden. Director of Forty Shades Of Blue Ira Sachs attended his screenings with star of the film Dina Korzun . Other guests included Anne Fontaine and Isabelle Carré for Entre Ses Mains ; Bent Hamer and Lili Taylor for Factotum; Dagur Kari and actor Jakob Cedergren for Dark Horse; and Per Fly and Jesper Christensen for Manslaughter.
A who's who of British comedy attended the premiere of Michael Winterbottom's A Cock And Bull Story including Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon and Shirley Henderson. Brydon also attended the premiere of Dave McKean 's Mirrormask along with Lenny Henry and Stephanie Leonidas . Fellow Brits Julian Fellowes and Tom Wilkinson attended Separate Lies , while Michael Caton-Jones, John Hurt, Hugh Dancy and Claire Hope Ashitey received rapturous applause for Shooting Dogs. Damian Lewis was at the Odeon West End for his standout performance in Lodge Kerrigan 's Keane . It was not only Festival film-makers who were out in force to champion their films, Michael Palin and Terry Jones reunited with old Python cohort Terry Gilliam for his latest fantasy The Brothers Grimm starring Heath Ledger, Matt Damon and Jonathan Pryce.
A host of renowned directors flew in from around the globe to attend the Festival including Shane Black ( Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang ), David Lachapelle ( Rize), Atom Egoyan ( Where The Truth Lies ), Scott McGehee and David Siegel ( Bee Season), Thom Fitzgerald ( 3 Needles ), James Benning ( 13 Lakes and Ten Skies ), the Dardenne Brothers ( L'Enfant ), François Ozon ( Time To Leave ), Gabriele Salvatores ( Quo Vadis Baby? ), Ferzan Oztepek ( Sacred Heart ), Danis Tanovic ( Hell), Cristi Puiu ( The Death Of Mister Lazarescu), Fatih Akin ( Crossing The Bridge: The Sound Of Istanbul) , Kutlug Ataman ( 2 Girls ) , Bipin Nadkarni ( Journey To The Other Side ), Hou Hsiao-Hsien ( Three Times ), Marcos Prado ( Estamira ) and The Brothers Quay ( The Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes ).
Beyond its public profile, there were over 50 events for educational audiences and industry professionals. These ranged from a panel discussion with members of Britain's quadriplegic rugby team for Murderball , to the international producers conference, Co-production Express and Discover Digital , the skills development training week, plus numerous workshops for schools and community groups.
Festival Artistic Director, Sandra Hebron , said "It's been a pleasure to present this year's line up of the best cinema from around the world, and to enjoy the enthusiastic participation of film-makers and audiences. As the 2005 Festival draws to a close, we look forward with anticipation to next year, when we'll be celebrating our 50th edition."
At the Closing Gala the following four awards were presented. Director Kari Paljakka received the Sutherland Trophy for For The Living And The Dead , director Ramin Bahrani was awarded the 8th FIPRESCI for Man Push Cart . The Alfred Dunhill Award was presented to British producer Gayle Griffiths and the 10th Annual Satyajit Ray Award went to Pavee Lackeen directed by Perry Ogden . Other awards include the TCM Short Film Award which went to Jane Lloyd directed by Happy and the inaugural Times bfi London Film Festival Grierson Award was presented to director Michael Glawogger for Working Man's Death.
The London Film Festival Touring programme kicks off on Friday in Dublin and will run at venues across the UK until the end of the year. The New Films From New Film-makers Tour includes the Sutherland Trophy Award winning film, For The Living And The Dead.
Awards:
The Sutherland Trophy Winner: Kari Paljakka director of For The Living And The Dead ( Eläville Ja Kuolleille )
The Sutherland Trophy is awarded to the director of the most original and imaginative first feature film screened at The Times bfi London Film Festival.
Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron said, " For the Living and the Dead offers a genuinely fresh approach to a taboo subject, Paljakka has created an intimate and unflinching portrait of a grieving family that is both humane and uplifting. This is a powerful and original film and a deserving winner of the bfi Sutherland Trophy."
Previous winners include: Tarnation 2004, Osama 2003, Carnages 2002 , The Warrior 2001 and You Can Count On Me 2000, Ratcatcher 1999, The Apple 1998, Le Vie De Jésus 1997
8th FIPRESCI International Critics Award Winner: Ramin Bahrani director of Man Push Cart
FIPRESCI is the international organisation of film critics throughout the world and has been in existence for over 70 years. It is best known publicly through the participation of its juries at all the major and many specialist international film festivals. FIPRESCI's sole purpose is to advance the art of cinema and reward talent.
Jury member George Perry commented, " Man Push Cart is a beautiful study of an exiled Pakistani living in New York, a rock star in his homeland, but now a man selling bagels and coffee from a street stall. The film is not only visually excellent, but has a powerful central performance from Ahmad Razvi."
Previous Winners: Aaltra 2004, The Living World 2003, Angel On The Right 2002, Bolivia 2001, Uneasy Riders 2000
The Alfred Dunhill UK Film Talent Award Winner: Producer Gayle Griffiths
Created to celebrate and support new and emerging UK Film talent, the UK Film Talent Award is sponsored by Alfred Dunhill. Launched in partnership with the UK Film Council, the award recognises the achievements of new and emerging British writers, directors and producers who have shown great skill and imagination in bringing originality and verve to film-making. This award is endowed with £15,000. Griffiths produced Song of Songs , selected for this year's film programme.
Christopher Colfer, CEO of Alfred Dunhill said "It is a pleasure to be supporting this award and we congratulate Gayle Griffiths for being recognised as an important part of the British film industry's future. We are very pleased to give the award of £15,000 to go towards what, we hope for her, will be a successful career."
Previous Winner: A Way Of Life 2004
The 10th Annual Satyajit Ray Award Winner: Pavee Lackeen directed by Perry Ogden
The Satyajit Ray Foundation gives an annual award to a first feature, premiered in the UK at The Times bfi London Film Festival, which reflects the artistry, compassion and humanity of Ray's own work.
" The Jury acknowledges the high standard of many of the first features in this year's Festival, and particularly admired Bouli Lanners' Ultranova , Lee Yoon-Ki's This Charming Girl , and Maria Procházková's Shark in the Head . We are unanimous, however, in giving the 10th annual award to the Irish film, Pavee Lackeen , Perry Ogden's skilfully dramatised and deeply committed portrayal of the traveller community in Dublin and its struggle with bureaucracy, poverty and prejudice. " said Jury President Clyde Jeavons.
Previous winners include: The Woodsman 2004, Someone Like Hodder 2003, Rachida 2002, In The Bedroom 2001, Uneasy Riders 2000, Boys Don't Cry 1999, Smoke Signals 1998, Lea 1997
The Times bfi London Film Festival Grierson Award: Workingman's Death directed by Michael Glawogger
New to the festival this year, The Times bfi London Film Festival Grierson Award is given to the director of the best feature-length documentary shown at the Festival.
"A harrowing and visually stunning excursion into the brutal realities of life for manual labourers across the world, this is a truly original and thought-provoking documentary and a deserving winner of our inaugural presentation of The Times bfi London Film Festival Grierson Award." said Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron
TCM Short Film Award Winner: Jane Lloyd directed by Happy
On Wednesday night, Jane Lloyd , was announced as Best Short Film at the TCM Classic Shorts competition at an award ceremony held as part of The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival. The film was selected from over 450 entries by a judging panel of film industry heavyweights including Gurinder Chadha, Dame Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman and Kate Winslet. Now in its sixth year, this prestigious short film competition has established itself as one of the most valuable, not only in terms of the £10,000 prize money but also as a career launchpad.
Previous Winners include: Nits 2004, Brown Paper Bag 2003, Thespian X 2002, About A Girl 2001, Je T'Aime John Wayne 2000
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