London Film Festival: The Winners

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 173 months ago
London Film Festival: The Winners

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In an attempt at widening the event's scope (for which, read: getting the Americans to notice — and it's worked!), this year's London Film Festival was the first to hand out prizes to the best film.

Fantastic foxes and that Clooney fellow weren't getting much attention last night, as the winner of the inaugural Best Film was announced as Un Prophète, a French prison drama that was also cheered at Cannes. Post-apocalyptic Cormac McCarthy adaptation The Road was also praised by Anjelica Huston and her jury. In an award that the more cynical might think was invented purely to ensure a Brit wins something, the Best British Newcomer gong went to Jack Thorne, writer of The Scouting Book For Boys

The awards will give the annual event a more distinguised place on the international film calendar, but we feel it won't really be complete without a snazzy name for the statuette. We're all familiar with the Oscar, the Palm d'Or, the Razzie, the Bafta. But what should London dole out to film's great and good? Suggestions welcomed in the comments.

The festival concludes tonight with the premiere of Sam Taylor-Wood's film about John Lennon's childhood, Nowhere Boy.

Last Updated 29 October 2009