Sergei Loznitsa’s Imperium has won the Best Film award in the official competition at the 70th BFI London Film Festival. The winners were announced on Sunday, ahead of the festival’s closing evening, which featured the UK premiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut.
Other winners included Asmahan Bkerat’s Concrete Land, which received the Grierson Award; Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven, which won the Sutherland Award; and Rahul Roye’s Aman, which took home the Short Film Award.
Imperium revisits the Soviet Union of the early 1970s through footage shot by Italian cameramen. The film offers a perspective on the country’s social and cultural diversity that extends beyond official Soviet portrayals.
The competition jury, led by filmmaker Sam Pollard, whose credits include MLK/FBI and Citizen Ashe, praised Loznitsa’s use of archival material to present a rarely seen picture of Soviet life. The jury described the film as “richly evocative and emotionally engaging”, highlighting its visually striking portrayal of life before the Soviet Union broke apart.
Asmahan Bkerat’s feature directorial debut, Concrete Land, won the Grierson Award in the documentary competition. The film follows a family in Jordan as its members resist displacement across several generations.
The documentary jury, led by Santosh director Sandhya Suri, praised the film’s visual storytelling and sound design, as well as the trusting relationship Bkerat establishes with her subjects.
Theo Rollason’s Queer Edward II received a special mention in the documentary category. Made entirely from archival material, the film revisits the making of Derek Jarman’s Edward II against the backdrop of Britain’s anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in the 1980s. The jury commended its portrayal of Jarman as both an artist and an activist.
Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven, Thailand’s international Oscar submission, won the Sutherland Award for first feature. The road movie follows an ageing grandmother who embarks on a pilgrimage to nine temples with her children and grandchildren after receiving a prophecy. The film explores faith, family and the passage from life to death.
The jury praised the film as a visually striking and meditative debut, highlighting its spiritual approach and its contribution to Southeast Asian cinema.
Bertil Nilsson’s MASC received a special mention in the same category. The debut follows Robin as he navigates short-term jobs and uncertain relationships while searching for a place to belong. The jury praised the film’s originality, humour and distinctive voice in British cinema.
Rahul Roye’s Aman won the Short Film Award. The film follows a trans man who discovers he is pregnant on the eve of his gender-affirming surgery. The jury praised its painterly cinematography and assured storytelling, noting its refusal to offer easy answers. The film is available to stream for free on BFI Player until 25 October.
Elizabeth Hobbs’ Daughters of the Late Colonel received a special mention in the short film category. The film follows two middle-aged sisters struggling to find their way after the death of their domineering father. The jury highlighted its inventive visual style and its balance of humour, pathos and provocation.
The festival’s audience awards were still to be announced at the time of the announcement. Voting for Best Feature and Best British Discovery was scheduled to close on 21 October, with the winners to be revealed later.
BFI London Film Festival 2026 Winners
- Best Film: Imperium — Sergei Loznitsa
- Grierson Award: Concrete Land — Asmahan Bkerat
- Documentary Special Mention: Queer Edward II — Theo Rollason
- Sutherland Award: 9 Temples to Heaven — Sompot Chidgasornpongse
- First Feature Special Mention: MASC — Bertil Nilsson
- Short Film Award: Aman — Rahul Roye
- Short Film Special Mention: Daughters of the Late Colonel — Elizabeth Hobbs