The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced that BAFTA and Oscar-nominated director, producer and writer Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) will deliver the David Lean Lecture – BAFTA’s prestigious film lecture – on Friday 2 February 2018 at BAFTA’s headquarters, 195 Piccadilly in London.
The David Lean Lecture aims to inspire and inform practitioners and the public, by providing an insight into the experiences and outstanding creative achievements of some of the world’s most compelling filmmakers. Previous speakers include Robert Altman, Paul Greengrass, David Lynch, David O Russell, Lone Scherfig, Oliver Stone and Peter Weir.
Marc Samuelson, Chair of the BAFTA Film Committee, said: “We are thrilled that Yorgos Lanthimos will deliver this year’s David Lean Lecture. Yorgos Lanthimos’ films push audiences to think about and question the very nature of things through his distinct blend of black comedy, social satire, dystopia and macbre plotting. His contribution to both Greek and British film is significant, and we are extremely fortunate to have this chance to benefit from his insights into the industry.”
Yorgos Lanthimos was born in Athens, Greece. His first feature film, Greek experimental drama Kinetta, played at the Toronto and Berlin Film Festivals in 2005 to critical acclaim.
His next feature film, Dogtooth (2009), won the Un Certain Regard Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, followed by numerous awards at festivals worldwide. In 2011 the film received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year.
In 2011, Lanthimos wrote, directed and produced Greek drama Alps, which won the Osella for Best Screenplay at the 2011 Venice film festival and Best Film at the Sydney film festival in 2012.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ first English language feature film, dystopian black comedy The Lobster (2015), was presented In Competition at the 68th Cannes Film Festival and won the Jury Prize. The film, which starred Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, received the BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film in 2016, as well as an Oscar nomination for Screenplay in 2017.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Lanthimos’ fifth feature film, is a psychological horror starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman, which premiered in Competition at the 70th Cannes Film Festival and won the Award for Best Screenplay in 2017.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ next film, The Favourite, a period film set in the court of Queen Anne and starring Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Olivia Coleman, is currently in post-production.
The David Lean Lecture carries on the legacy of the great director David Lean, one of the founders of the British Film Academy (as it was then known) in 1947 and a continuing inspiration to many through his exceptional body of work. The Lecture is generously funded by The David Lean Foundation, which continues to support and encourage excellence in British film making.
BAFTA members will be able to book tickets from 9:30am on Weds 20 December. Public tickets will also go on sale at 12:00pm that day. To book tickets, go to www.bafta.org/whats-on/.
Video highlights, a podcast and a transcript from the event will be available on BAFTA Guru, BAFTA’s online learning channel www.bafta.org/guru. Recordings of previous events in the series are available now.
Yorgos Lanthimos filmography:
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
The Lobster (2015)
Alps (‘Αλπεις) (2011)
Dogtooth (Κυνόδοντας) (2009)
Kinetta (2005)
Event details:
‘BAFTA David Lean Lecture: Yorgos Lanthimos’
Friday 2 February 2018 at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London
19:15 Champagne Taittinger and canapé reception
20:00 Event commences
For further information, please contact:
Eleanor Pickering at BAFTA
T +44 (0) 20 7734 5863
E [email protected]
Niyi Akeju at BAFTA
T +44 (0) 20 7292 5865
E [email protected]
