Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.
We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Film Jury Members are:
Asif Kapadia
Asif Kapadia is an Academy Award, BAFTA, Grammy, and European Film Award-winning director, writer, and producer, renowned for pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. Widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation, Kapadia is best known for his groundbreaking trilogy — Senna, Amy, and Diego Maradona — which redefined the documentary genre by crafting emotionally powerful, archive-only narratives that play with the urgency and drama of fiction.
Asif has just released his latest work, Kenny Dalglish in cinemas, an inspiring and emotional documentary capturing the mercurial sports figure.
Asif is also an Ambassador of the Arts Foundation, having been awarded the Fellowship for Film Directing in 2001.
Danny Leigh
Danny Leigh is the film critic of the Financial Times. As a journalist, he has written for the FT since 2012, and before that, wrote for many years for The Guardian. He has also worked as a documentary-maker and broadcaster, including co-hosting BBC One’s long-running Film show. He is currently finishing his third novel for publisher Faber.
Lindsay Poulton
Lindsay is Editorial Director of Film and TV, shaping strategy and output across the Guardian’s film and TV work. Alongside this global focus, she commissions and curates Documentaries for the Guardian’s digital platforms, including the Oscar-winning Colette and BAFTA-winning The Black Cop. With this multi-platform outlook, Lindsay is committed to finding the most powerful ways to bring stories rooted in the Guardian’s distinctive editorial ethos and purpose to the screen.
Before this, Lindsay worked as a filmmaker and journalist and her work has been recognised with numerous awards and shown at The White House as well as top-tier film festivals around the world including Sundance, Tribeca and Sheffield DocFest. She enjoys regular opportunities to judge industry awards, speak at international conferences, teach at universities, and is a proud member of BAFTA.
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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.
The Film Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.
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