Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sam Pollard will head the official competition jury at the 70th BFI London Film Festival (LFF, October 7-18).
During his career Pollard has received an Academy Award nomination as the producer of Spike Lee’s 4 Little Girls, and has also won Peabody and Emmy awards. His credits as a director include MLK/FBI, Citizen Ashe and Tutu.
Joining Pollard on the official competition jury will be Argentinian filmmaker and writer Mariano Llinás, whose film The Life of Jorge Luis Borges premiered at Venice, and Julie La ’Bassiere, chief strategy officer at DDA Global.
Heading up the first feature competition (Sutherland award) jury is Giant actor Amir El-Masry. He is joined by Filipino independent film producer Alemberg Ang and veteran international executive Rosa Bosch, who has had roles at AFI Fest, the London Film Festival and the San Sebastian Film Festival.
Santosh director Sandhya Suri will lead the jury selecting the winner of the Grierson Award for best documentary. She is joined by Melbourne International Film Festival senior programmer Kate Fitzpatrick, and Bafta-winning producer Andee Ryder.
Writer/producer Helen Simmons, whose project 100 Nights Of Hero closed LFF last year, leads the short film jury, which also includes comedian Leo Reich and script editor, story consultant and producer Jack Casey, who worked on Black Church Bay, which screens at this year’s Festival.
There are also audience awards for the best feature film and best British feature film.
The winners will be announced on Sunday October 18.
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