Academic chooses her top 10 films of the year

Sight and Sound is published by the British Film Institute (BFI) and is widely-recognised as the leading publication for film news, reviews and analysis. Its annual poll of the best films of the year is eagerly awaited by film buffs around the world.

Dr Hallam, pictured, is an expert in horror so it is no surprise that her favourite films of the year drew heavily from this genre. Here is Dr Hallam's Top 10:

1. Candyman
2. Censor
3. First Cow
4. The Green Knight, pictured
5. In The Earth
6. Judas and the Black Messiah
7. Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon
8. Passing
9. Titane
10. Violation

From her choices, three made it on to the coveted Top 50 films of the Year list. The Green Knight placed 12th; Censor was the 18th most popular film; and Judas and the Black Messiah was 36th in the table.

"It's been an interesting year for film," said Dr Hallam. "We started off the year with cinemas being off limits as Covid took its grip on the nation. Then in May, we started to see the light again. We were permitted to step back in to the place where magic happens, the place where we can suspend belief, and immerse ourselves in the unfamiliar familiar.

"Thankfully, filmmakers have continued to show such love for cinema; watching some of the offerings has been such a moving experience. I hold hope that we will continue to go to the cinema and experience films as their makers intended. As much as I love the convenience of streaming films from home, nothing beats the big screen."

Sight and Sound: the Winter 2021-22 issue is out now. To find out the 50 Best Films of 2021 as voted by the Sight and Sound panel of experts, visit the BFI website.