The Sutherland Trophy was created in 1958 by the British Film Institute (BFI) as an annual award for "the maker of the most original and imaginative [first or second] feature film introduced at the National Film Theatre during the year".
History
In 1997, the criteria changed to honour the maker of the most original and imaginative first feature screened during the London Film Festival.
The award is a sculpture in silver by Gerald Benney. It is presented on the closing night of the Festival. The award was named after a patron of the BFI, George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland.