Variety Appoints Guy Lodge as Chief Film Critic

Variety has announced the appointment of Guy Lodge as its new chief film critic, a role he will share with Owen Gleiberman. Lodge, who has been contributing to Variety since 2011, will be based in London and will review major studio releases, arthouse films, and cover film festivals globally. He succeeds Peter Debruge, who concluded a 20-year tenure at Variety in February and has since taken on the role of director at the SXSW Film & TV Festival.

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Guy Lodge has a robust background in film criticism, having served as a weekly film columnist for The Observer since 2013. His writing has also appeared in prominent publications such as The Guardian, Sight & Sound, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and Attitude magazine. Lodge's career in film journalism began with his work as a critic and reporter for the website In Contention. He is also actively involved in the film community as the vice chair of the London Film Critics’ Circle, chair of the nomination committee for the British Independent Film Awards, and a voting member of BAFTA.

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Ramin Setoodeh, co-president and co-editor in chief of Variety, expressed enthusiasm for Lodge's appointment, stating, “In the last 15 years, Guy has elevated Variety‘s film criticism with some of the best written reviews in the business.” Lodge himself remarked on his long-standing relationship with Variety, saying, “Reviewing for Variety has been the honor of my critical career since I began here as a freelancer in 2011... I couldn’t be more excited to succeed my friend Peter Debruge in the role.”

Variety Magazine

Lodge's appointment is significant as it underscores Variety's commitment to enhancing its film criticism, particularly in the context of global cinema. His role will not only involve reviewing films but also spotlighting essential voices and independent films that may not yet be widely recognized. This strategic move aims to strengthen Variety's influence in film journalism and maintain its reputation as a leading source for film criticism.

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• “In the last 15 years, Guy has elevated Variety‘s film criticism with some of the best written reviews in the business,” — Ramin Setoodeh, Co-President and Co-Editor in Chief, Variety

Variety Magazine

• “Reviewing for Variety has been the honor of my critical career since I began here as a freelancer in 2011, and over the last 15 years, my bond with the publication has become a defining one,” — Guy Lodge, Chief Film Critic, Variety

Variety Magazine

Guy Lodge's transition into this prominent role at Variety marks a new chapter for the publication, promising to enrich its film criticism landscape and engage audiences with diverse cinematic perspectives.

Variety Magazine