Polish film wins top prize. Other winners include Starred Up, Ilo Ilo and My Fathers, My Mother and Me.
Pawel Pawlikowski’s post-holocaust drama Ida has been awarded the Best Film prize at this years BFI London Film Festival. The Polish film looks at the impact of the holocaust had upon Poland after World War 2 through the eyes of two women, Anna and Wanda, the only surviving members of their Jewish family.
Announced by BFI Fellowship winner and President of the Official Competition jury, Philip French, the veteran critic gave Ida great praise. ”The jury greatly admired Ida, the first film made in his native Poland by a director who came to prominence while living in Britain. We were deeply moved by a courageous film that handles, with subtlety and insight, a painfully controversial historical situation – the German occupation and the Holocaust – which continues to resonate. Special praise went to his use of immersive visual language to create a lasting emotional impact”.
The screenwriter of British prison drama Starred Up, Jonathan Asser received the festival Best British newcomer award. Singaporean family drama Ilo Ilo won the First Feature Competition, whilst Austrian commune documentary My Fathers, My Mother And Me won Best Documentary.
Other films that were highly commended by the respective juries were The Selfish Giant, B For Boy and Cutie And The Boxer (see below).
Sources: BFI