Adam Elliot’s “Memoir Of A Snail” Wins Best Film at BFI London Film Festival 2024
The 68th BFI London Film Festival (LFF), held in the UK, announced its 2024 winners with Adam Elliot’s "Memoir Of A Snail" taking the prestigious Best Film Award in the Official Competition. This marks a historic milestone as the first animated film to win the top prize since the category's inception in 2009.
Directed by Australian filmmaker Adam Elliot, "Memoir Of A Snail" tells the poignant story of a melancholic woman, voiced by Sarah Snook, who surrounds herself with snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs. Praised for its emotional resonance and inventive storytelling, the film tackles themes of loneliness, grief, and bullying in a way that the jury described as “a singular achievement in filmmaking.”
The film premiered at Annecy earlier this year, securing the top prize there as well, before opening the Melbourne Film Festival and earning accolades at Sitges and Ottawa. Modern Films plans a UK and Ireland theatrical release in February 2025 alongside an awards campaign, with international sales handled by Anton and Charades.
Rungano Nyoni’s "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," exploring sensitive themes of abuse in a close-knit Zambian community, received a special mention from the jury.
The Sutherland Award for Best First Feature went to Laura Carreira’s "On Falling," a UK production following a young Portuguese immigrant navigating life as a warehouse worker in Scotland. The jury highlighted its “richly-layered portrait of alienation and corporate greed,” while praising its nuanced performances. Carreira recently won Best Director for the film at San Sebastian.
In the documentary category, the Grierson Award was presented to "Mother Vera," directed by Cecile Embleton and Alys Tomlinson. The film captures the internal struggles of a young Orthodox nun, with the jury celebrating its balance of “aesthetic beauty and emotional depth.”
Palestinian filmmaker Rehab Nazzal’s "Vibrations From Gaza," a documentary shedding light on the experiences of Deaf children under siege, won Best Short Film. The film was lauded for its powerful storytelling and was joined by Lisa Ott’s "Dragfox," which received a special mention.
Audience voting continues for three awards, with results to be announced at the end of the month. The festival concludes tonight with the European premiere of Morgan Neville’s "Piece By Piece," a Lego-animated exploration of Pharrell Williams’ life.
Full List of Winners
Official Competition Best Film Award
- Winner: "Memoir Of A Snail" / Adam Elliot
- Special Mention: "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" / Rungano Nyoni
Sutherland Award for Best First Feature
- Winner: "On Falling" / Laura Carreira
- Special Mention: "Olivia & The Clouds" / Tomás Pichardo Espaillat
Grierson Award for Best Documentary
- Winner: "Mother Vera" / Cecile Embleton, Alys Tomlinson
- Special Mention: "The Shadow Scholars" / Eloise King
Best Short Film
- Winner: "Vibrations From Gaza" / Rehab Nazzal
- Special Mention: "Dragfox" / Lisa Ott