UK Film triumphs at Venice Critics' Week
Director Oscar Hudson celebrates his Grand Prize with the jury
Our Festivals Consultant Catherine Bray headed to Venice in August to see the results of our Selector screenings for the Venice Critics' team - and sent us this roundup
" Following strong award-winning showings for UK film at La Settimana, aka Critics’ Week, at Venice 2023 (Hoard, Sky Peals) and 2024 (Paul and Paulette Take a Bath), UK has once again gone on to have an extraordinary year at the Venice strand dedicated to debuts.
100 Nights director Julia Jackman with Venice Critics' head Beatrice Fiorentino
Overseen by Beatrice Fiorentino, Critics’ Week comprises an Opening and Closing night film, plus just seven Competition slots. Two of these slots went to the UK debuts Ish, from artist filmmaker Imran Perretta, and Straight Circle, from Oscar Hudson. Meanwhile, the coveted Closing Night slot went to Julia Jackman’s queer fantasy film with an all-star cast led by Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, Nicholas Galitzine, Amir El-Masry, and Charli XCX; 100 Nights of Hero will also close the BFI London Film Festival in October.
Team Ish, with director Imran Perretta, pose before their Venice premiere
After an emotional screening, Ish went on to take home the Audience Award, voted for by everyone who attends the screenings at Critics’ Week, while Straight Circle was selected by the international jury composed of Valentina and Nicole Bertani, Nathalie Jeung and Lee Hong-chi for the Grand Prize.
100 Nights of Hero, while not eligible for a Competition prize, closed the strand with a standing ovation and rave reviews, with Screen International declaring "Julia Jackman’s droll fantasy feminist fable is a true original."
The 100 Nights team take their applause
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