The 70th BFI London Film Festival, which runs from 7 to 18 October, has announced that British-Egyptian actor and producer Amir El-Masry will head the jury of the First Feature Competition. El-Masry, known for his roles in Limbo and Giant, will be joined by Filipino independent film producer Alemberg Ang and international film sales executive Rosa Bosch. As head of the jury, El-Masry will play a crucial role in determining the Sutherland Award, given to one of the festival's major awards.
Amir El-Masry has established a successful career in British, Egyptian, and international cinema and television. He won a Scottish BAFTA for his performance in the 2020 drama Limbo, in which he played a Syrian refugee seeking asylum on a remote Scottish island. El-Masry was subsequently named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in 2020 and a Screen International Star of Tomorrow in 2021. His recent work includes the biographical drama Giant and 100 Nights of Hero.
The First Feature Competition jury will assess a selection of debut features competing for the Sutherland Award. The other three competitive sections at this year's festival will also be headed by figures with substantial filmmaking and industry experience. The Official Competition jury, which selects the festival's Best Film Award, is led by American documentary filmmaker Sam Pollard. Pollard is joined by Argentine filmmaker Mariano Llinás and Julie La Bassiere, Chief Strategy Officer at DDA.
The Documentary Competition jury is headed by British Indian writer and director Sandhya Suri, whose 2024 Hindi-language feature debut Santosh premiered at Cannes. Suri is joined by Kate Fitzpatrick, Senior Programmer at Melbourne International Film Festival, and BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning producer Andee Ryder. The Short Film Competition jury is led by producer Helen Simmons, whose producing credits include the BAFTA-nominated Hoard and 100 Nights of Hero.
The 70th BFI London Film Festival brings together films from the international cinema landscape in one of the UK's major annual film events. The festival's programme encompasses feature films, documentaries, and shorts, alongside its competitive sections and a range of other screenings and events. BFI London Film Festival Director Kristy Matheson said the 2026 competition films bring together a broad range of stories and filmmaking voices.
The juries will assess films competing across the festival's four award categories, with the BFI London Film Festival describing its awards as a celebration of new, innovative, and visually distinctive filmmaking from around the world. El-Masry's appointment as head of the First Feature Competition jury gives him a significant role in determining one of the festival's major awards.
The festival's programme is a testament to the diversity and talent of filmmakers from around the world. With a range of competitions and events, the 70th BFI London Film Festival is set to be an exciting and memorable event. Amir El-Masry's involvement as head of the First Feature Competition jury adds to the festival's prestige and highlights his growing influence in the film industry.
Key points
- Amir El-Masry to head the First Feature Competition jury at the 70th BFI London Film Festival.
- The festival's programme encompasses feature films, documentaries, and shorts, alongside its competitive sections and a range of other screenings and events.
- The juries will assess films competing across the festival's four award categories, celebrating new, innovative, and visually distinctive filmmaking from around the world.
