BFI and Chanel Filmmaker Awards: Meet the 2024 Winners

It was a night where creativity danced with glamour, and the echoes of laughter mingled with the sound of applause at the Roundhouse in London, where the third BFI and Chanel filmmaker awards unfolded like a well-scripted drama. The stars of the evening were not glittering Hollywood luminaries, but rather the brilliant minds behind the lens: Naqqash Khalid, Luna Carmoon, and Pinny Grylls, each walking away with a handsome £20,000 prize. It turns out that talent, much like good wine, only gets better with time – and perhaps a touch of Chanel.

The jury was a veritable bouquet of talent themselves, featuring the enchanting Tilda Swinton, the stylish Edward Enninful of Vogue, and the astute Marie-Louise Khondji, who all surely brought their A-game to the task—a bit like casting for a blockbuster film, really. Can you imagine the conversations? “Let’s pick the ones who can take us on a ride through their cinematic worlds while clinking our champagne glasses.”

Now, let’s talk about Luna Carmoon and her pièce de résistance, Hoard. Premiering at Venice in 2023, this film quickly snatched several accolades, including the coveted audience award. It tells the touching story of a seven-year-old girl swept away into foster care from a home that’s less of a picturesque paradise and more of a hoarder's paradise, overflowing with shiny bits and bobs that would make any magpie swoon. Imagine the insightful conversations between Saura Lightfoot Leon, Hayley Squires, and Joseph Quinn, trapped in this world of misplaced familial love and clutter—quite the emotional rollercoaster!

Then there’s Grand Theft Hamlet, a title that begs to be both quoted and chuckled at. Co-directed by Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, it’s a peculiar concoction of pandemic-induced creative spirit—a pair of actors, sidelined by the world shutting down, decide to stage the Bard’s classic, not on a dusty stage, but within the digital chaos of Grand Theft Auto. Who knew the world of video games could also lead to Shakespeare? This quirky documentary won the jury prize at SXSW and is set to make waves at the BFI London Film Festival shortly. I can already hear the audiences giggling at the prospect of to-be-or-not-to-be amidst car chases.

And let’s not forget In Camera, from Naqqash Khalid, a poignant tale of a young actor desperately navigating the nightmarish labyrinth of auditions, seeking a role that might just deliver an ounce of sanity. It debuted at Karlovy Vary last year and stars Nabhaan Rizwan, Amir El-Masry, and Rory Fleck Byrne—each a beacon of talent. The film recently waltzed its way into the UK-Ireland market thanks to Conic, giving audiences a chance to revel in the struggles of a dreamer.

But here’s the real scoop: since 2022, Chanel has been playing fairy godmother to the BFI with these filmmaker awards, which were unveiled like a glamorous surprise at the biannual Luminous gala. Previous winners such as Baff Akoto and Kathryn Ferguson clearly set the bar high, proving that the realm of storytelling is alive and thriving, packed with innovative visions just waiting to unravel on our screens.

So, hats off to these trailblazers who manage to blend their artistic visions with a sprinkle of humor and a dollop of heart. As the applause fades, we can only wait with bated breath—we’re on the edge of our seats for what they’ll conjure up next.