Writer-director Kelly Reichardt's spare and subtle Montana drama Certain Women won the best-picture prize at the London Film Festival, while 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen received a major career award.
The festival wraps up Sunday with Free Fire, a 1970s-set comic thriller by British director Ben Wheatley.
McQueen, a filmmaker and Turner Prize-winning video artist, was presented with the British Film Institute Fellowship — the organization's highest honour — by Michael Fassbender. The Irish actor has appeared in all three of the director's feature films — Hunger, Shame and 12 Years a Slave.
Fassbender called McQueen, whose movies have tackled subjects including starvation, addiction and slavery, "a rarity — both a sensitive and a dangerous man."
McQueen, 47, said "there's only two things I'm sure about: One, I'm black ... Two, I'm a Londoner."
Actresses Lea Seydoux and Marion Cotillard pose for photographers on arrival at the premiere of the film It's Only The End Of The World, showing as part of the London Film Festival in London on Oct. 14. (Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)
He credited Britain's previous system of free higher education for giving him the freedom to "explore, experiment and make mistakes." Students now face thousands of pounds a year in tuition fees.
There's only two things I'm sure about: One, I'm black ... Two, I'm a Londoner. - Steve McQueen
"It seems that freedom is being slowly eroded," McQueen said.
The 60-year-old London festival has sought this year to encourage diversity in the film industry, opening with Amma Asante's A United Kingdom. A tale of interracial love and politics inspired by real events, it marked the first time that a black female director has held the prestigious opening slot at the festival.
As well as hosting premieres and red-carpet galas, the festival gathered performers, producers and filmmakers to discuss why black actors remain underrepresented onscreen in Britain and the United States.
During the festival's black-tie awards ceremony Saturday at London's 17th-century Banqueting House, a jury headed by Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari praised the masterful imagery and quiet modesty of Reichardt's film about three women — played by Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and Laura Dern — struggling with life in a chilly small town.
Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern speak onstage at the Certain Women intro and Q&A during the 54th New York Film Festival on Oct. 3. Certain Women won the best-picture prize at the London Film Festival Awards. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
The director is known for moving, minimalist dramas including Wendy and Lucy and Meek's Cutoff.
Certain Women beat other nominees including Paul Verhoeven's provocative revenge thriller Elle; Barry Jenkins' Miami coming-of-age drama Moonlight; and Chilean director Pablo Larrain's poet biopic Neruda.
French director Julia Ducournau's horror story Raw was named best first feature. Jurors praised the "outrageousness" of the film, which Ducournau called a crossover "between comedy, drama and body horror."
Iranian director Mehrdad Oskouei's portrait of teenage inmates, Starless Dreams, was named best documentary, and Syrian photographer Issa Touma's unflinching 9 Days — From My Window in Aleppo won the short-film prize.
The 12-day festival screened some 250 documentary and fiction features across London.
Certain Women wins, Steve McQueen honoured at London Film Fest
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