Talented young filmmakers aged 16-25 that took home prizes at the close of the 14th edition of the BFI Future Film Festival include Rory Wilson winning Best Film for Loco; Gustavo Gamero received Best Director for Instructions to Let Go and Emmanuel Li won Best New Talent for “Music For the End of the World”.
Other winners included Radheya Jegatheva (Best Animation and Best International Film for The Quiet), Luis Gerardo LoGar (Best International Special Mention for Damn Hobo!), Simisolaoluwa Akande (Best Experimental Film for Dudu), Laura Marcus (Best Writer for The Massive F*cking Bender), Neelakshi Yadav (Best Documentary for Life Is A Highway) and Aneta Siurnicka (Best Micro Short for Breath).
Award Winners of 2021 BFI Future Film Festival
BEST FILM
LOCO (Dir. Rory Wilson)
The jury selected Rory Wilson’s LOCO, a film about the unspoken truth of being a train driver and one driver’s haunting experience on the tracks.
This category recognizes the Best Film made by a UK-based filmmaker aged 16 – 25.
Juror Reggie Yates said: “LOCO is a remarkable film that explores important issues around suicide and mental health in a sensitive, realistic and powerful way. My fellow jurors and I were highly impressed to see such a compelling narrative executed in a thought provoking yet respectful way. Every element of the film from the directing, acting, editing and sound design stood out to showcase what is an impressive and unique film.”
BEST DIRECTOR
INSTRUCTIONS TO LET GO (Dir. Gustavo Gamero)
The jury selected Gustavo Gamero’s INSTRUCTIONS TO LET GO, an intimate story of Daphne and Mafer who meet at a hotel and quickly become something more than friends.
Juror Waad Al-Kateab said: “This was a beautifully shot film that really showcased Gustavo’s brilliant directorial abilities. We felt the film did particularly well in conveying the story of a sweet and intimate relationship in an intelligent and poetic way that was both visually inviting and directorially well told. Each shot was carefully constructed to create a piece of work that was in the end a truly unique film.”
BEST NEW TALENT
MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (Dir. Emmanuel Li)
The jury selected Emmanuel Li’s MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, a timely film about teenage Freddie who handles the apocalypse by dancing his troubles away.
Jury Chair Liz Karlsen said: “Music for the End of the World is a fun, quirky and imaginative film that merged lots of different elements of animation, music and narrative to create a brilliantly original piece of work. One of the standout points of this film was the clear direction of Emmanuel’s artistic vision that was well executed in an unusual yet well communicated way, it made it quite distinctive from anything else we’d seen throughout the festival!”
BEST ANIMATION AND BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
THE QUIET (Dir. Radheya Jegatheva)
Radheya Jegatheva takes home Best Animation and Best International Film for THE QUIET, which follows an astronaut as he ponders the silence of space and comes upon a startling self-realization.
BEST INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL MENTION
DAMN HOBO! (Dir. Luis Gerardo LoGar)
Luis Gerardo LoGar wins for DAMN HOBO!, an ethereal film depicting a homeless man getting lost in Mexico City, with music as his only guide.
BEST WRITER
THE MASSIVE FCKING BENDER (Dir. Laura Marcus)
Writer, Director and Actor Laura Marcus wins for THE MASSIVE FCKING BENDER, which follows one girl’s response to being rejected from the University of her dreams.
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
DUDU (Dir. Simisolaoluwa Akande)
The Best Experimental Film Award goes to Simisolaoluwa Akande’s DUDU, a beautifully lyrical exploration of the issue of colorism and its effects on self-identity. Akande.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
LIFE IS A HIGHWAY (Dir. Neelakshi Yadav)
LIFE IS A HIGHWAY, follows the rickshaw drivers, or ‘Autowalas’, of New Delhi, as they talk about the economic struggles, stigmas and socio-political issues that impact their livelihoods.
BEST MICRO SHORT
BREATH (Dir. Aneta Siurnicka)
BREATH questions whether breath is a moment of respite or agitation and if we should let the mind be free or fight with our thoughts.
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