The last night of the 2018 BFI London Film Festival (LFF) was an exciting one for women. Not only did Sudabeh Mortezai’s sex trafficking drama “Joy” win Best Film, it was announced Tricia Tuttle would be succeeding Clare Stewart as Director, BFI Festivals.
“Joy,” which screened in competition, centers on a sex worker who is tasked with overseeing a young recruit. At the same time, Joy is trying to earn enough money to buy her freedom from her madam.
Lenny Abrahamson, president of the fest’s main competition jury, described “Joy” as a “vital, beautifully made film,” per Variety. “’Joy’ is a provocative and unique film offering a devastating portrait of human resilience in the most inhuman of environments,” he said.
“Joy” previously took home the Hearst Film Award for female direction and the Label Europa Cinemas at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Mortezai is also the director of “Macondo” and documentaries “Children of the Prophet” and “Im Bazar der Geschlechter.”
The Sutherland Award for best first feature went to Lukas Dhont’s “Girl,” a portrait of a young trans woman trying to fulfill her dream of becoming a ballerina. “‘Girl’ is an extraordinary coming of age story featuring a truly remarkable central performance,” said Francis Lee (“God’s Own Country”), head of the First Feature jury. “It is not afraid to tackle a number of difficult subject matters which are dramatically effective and fully believable.”
BFI CEO Amanda Nevill announced Tuttle’s appointment at LFF’s closing ceremony. Tuttle led LFF 2018 as interim Artistic Director — in place of Stewart, who is on sabbatical — and will begin her permanent position in December, a press release revealed. Tuttle’s new role will see her reporting to BFI Creative Director Heather Stewart. It also includes overseeing Flare: London’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
“After six amazing years at the helm, Clare Stewart has completely transformed the Festival at home and internationally and I want to pay tribute to her energy and vision. She has been a force of nature and I wish her all the best with her next adventure,” said Nevill. “I congratulate Tricia Tuttle on her new role. She has done an astounding job leading the BFI London Film Festival this year with great skill and imagination and she has delivered a truly world class festival. I’m very excited to see where she takes the LFF in future years.”
Before taking on the interim Artistic Director job this year, Tuttle served as Deputy Head of Festivals at BFI for five years. She’s also worked as BAFTA’s Film Programme Manager, a programmer at the BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (which went on to become BFI Flare), and the Event Producer at London’s The Script Factory.
