London’s cultural life has once again been enriched with 10 days of outstanding and diverse works from all over the world.

We have seen record audiences and film makers from countries large and small offering work made with great skill, imagination and passion for scrutiny in competition by their peers.

Over 300 works posed formidable deliberations for the juries and the biggest prize of the festival, THE BEST FILM was awarded to MONOS (picture), Alejandros Landes’ drama/thriller about a group of child soldiers. The film has won a number of other wins and nominations including Sundance where it was handed the Special Jury Award. Special Commendations went to HONEY BOY and SAINT MAUD.

The SUTHERLAND AWARD for a first feature went to Mati Diop for her debut work ATLANTICS, with a Special Commendation to Bora Kim’s Korean drama HOUSE OF HUMMINGBIRD.

The GRIERSON AWARD for documentaries went to WHITE RIOT, Robika Shah’s film about The Rock Against Racism movement and the SHORT FILM Prize to Soheil AMIRSHARIFI’S 15 minute work about an Iranian schoolgirl.

The final film was another highlight, Martin Scorsese’s epic THE IRISHMAN. The director brought along his two stars Robert de Niro and Al Pacino, a trio of blue-blooded Hollywood royalty. Given a rave review, the final night also brought well deserved plaudits for Festival Director Tricia Tuttle. A memorable Festival.