The BFI London Film Festival, which celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary this year, has announced its dates for its 2006 session. The Festival will have its gala Opening Night on October 18th and run through November 2nd.

To celebrate its 50 year anniversary, the Festival is planning a number of special events in September, as an exciting run up to the official Festival program. Special public events around the city of London will be announced in the coming weeks. The Times of London returns as the Festival's title sponsor.

The Festival, which is presented by the British Film Institute, showcases films from around the world. In 2005, the Festival screened nearly 250 films, drawn from almost every film producing country around the globe.

Winners from last year's Festival included Kari Paljakka, director of FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD, which won the prestigious Sutherland Award, which is given to "the director of the most original and imaginative first feature film screened at Festival."

Other award winners from 2005 included the US/Iranian docudrama MAN PUSH CART, directed by Ramin Bahrani, winner of the FIPRESCI International Critics Award, and PAVEEN LACKEEN, directed by Perry Ogden, which won the Satyajit Ray Award, given to a first feature which had its UK premiere at the Festival.

The 2005 Festival closed with the UK premiere of the Oscar-nominated film GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, directed by George Clooney. Clooney and co-star Patricia Clarkson attended the Closing Night Gala.

Sandy Mandelberger
Executive Editor