BFI names jury chairs for its 70th London Film Festival competitions

Sam Pollard, Amir El-Masry, Sandhya Suri and Helen Simmons will lead the festival's official, first-feature, documentary and short-film award juries.

The 70th BFI London Film Festival has named the jury chairs for its four competition awards. Documentary filmmaker Sam Pollard will lead the Official Competition jury, actor and producer Amir El-Masry the First Feature Competition, writer-director Sandhya Suri the Documentary Competition, and producer Helen Simmons the

Short Film Competition. The supporting jurors bring a mix of filmmaking, programming and production experience. Pollard's recent work includes Tutu , which won the Peace Film Prize at the 2026 Berlinale; El-Masry is joined by Filipino independent producer Alemberg Ang and sales executive Rosa Bosch. Suri's panel

includes Melbourne International Film Festival programmer Kate Fitzpatrick and producer Andee Ryder. Simmons's colleagues include comedian and writer Leo Reich and story consultant Jack Casey. The festival says its awards recognise new and innovative screen work. The jury announcement follows the previously published

programme reveal and gives audiences another way to understand how the 2026 competition is being shaped. The 70th LFF runs October 7–18, with screenings at BFI Southbank, Royal Festival Hall and other London venues. See the jury announcement and festival dates and programme. Headline image: Sam Pollard / Henry

Adobonago / BFI. Official or creator promotional artwork.

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