Russian psychological drama set in a meteorological station in the Arctic Circle, How I Ended This Summer, has been awarded the best film award at the London Film Festival.
The film directed by Alexei Popogrebsky “is a visceral psychological drama set in the immersive landscape of the windswept Arctic,” according to Patricia Clarkson, the chair of the jury, which included Indian director Shekhar Kapur, actor Gabriel Byrne, and Sandy Powell.
Praising the director, the chair of the jury Patricia Clarkson said, “Alexei Popogrebsky has combined stunning cinematography with painterly attention to production detail and drawn intense and subtle performances from actors Grigory Dobrygin and Sergei Puskepalis.
The film turns the hunter-versus-hunted narrative on its head to provoke powerful questions about life and death, resilience and human compassion.”
First-time director Clio Barnard won two awards at the festival for her film The Arbor, based on the life and legacy of late playwright Andrea Dunbar.
Barnard was named best British newcomer for her film and was also honoured with The Sutherland Award, which is awarded to the director of the most original and imaginative feature debut at the festival.
“Clio Barnard’s genre-busting film The Arbor is innovative, eloquent and emotionally resonant. This film, which touched all of us, both challenges conventional film-making and at the same time engages with real lives.
A stunning debut,” award juror Tony Grisoni said.
British director Danny Boyle, who won direction Oscar for his film Slumdog Millionaire, was honoured with the BFI Fellowship, the highest accolade that the British Film Institute bestows, for his outstanding contribution to film culture.
Danny Boyle was presented with the award by director Stephen Daldry.
The current film festival will close on Thursday with Boyle’s latest film 127 Hours on Thursday.