Jack Gold Biography

Jack Gold, President of the Jury
(United Kingdom) Director

How did I arrive at such a prestigious event? Graduating in law and economics I rejected a "professional career". Instead, following an immersion in classical cinema and elemental film-making at the college film club, I took my first step as a trainee in BBC.TV. in that most important location, the cutting room. I learnt by observing and doing.

This was a most exciting time in TV. In addition to new channels there was the introduction of the new light-weight hand held sync. cameras that transformed the way documentary and fiction films were made. There was an acceptance of a "right to fail". As a film editor on an innovative daily programme, "Tonight", then as a director, making hundreds of short films and documentaries world-wide, I acquired two invaluable lessons: how to "shoot from the hip" and a vast experience of people in all circumstances. The subjects varied from Wall St. to famine, fox hunting to race relations.

I then turned to drama, short and full length films both for TV and cinema. Motivated by humanistic themes I explored methods from naturalism to expressionism in style and performance (Naked Civil Servant, Mad Jack, Sakharov, Murrow, Red Monarch, Sailor`s Return, Escape from Sobibor). I have been honoured by many awards over the years (Monte Carlo, Italia, Golden Globe, Emmys, Baftas) and now with great pleasure it is my turn, with distinguished colleagues, to honour others. It is a wonderful tradition but we must never forget we all stand on giant’s shoulders.