Variety has hired Guy Lodge as its new chief film critic. Lodge, who has been writing reviews for Variety since 2011, will team up with Owen Gleiberman, the magazine’s other chief film critic, to review major studio releases and arthouse films and cover film festivals around the world.
The lodge is based in London.
He replaces Peter DeBrugge, who ended his 20-year tenure at Variety in February and was recently named director of the SXSW Film Festival.
In addition to his work with Variety, Lodge has been a weekly film columnist for Britain’s Observer since 2013. His work has also appeared in the UK’s Guardian, Sight & Sound, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and Attitude magazine.
“For the past 15 years, Guy has elevated Variety’s film criticism with some of the best reviews in the industry,” said Ramin Setoudeh, Variety’s co-president and co-editor-in-chief. “Based in London, Guy’s new role solidifies Variety’s determination to continue to invest in critical reviews at film festivals around the world and shine a spotlight on the essential voices of global cinema. We are thrilled to welcome Guy to the Variety team.”
“Ever since I started working here as a freelancer in 2011, a review in Variety has been a significant career honor for me, and my bond with this publication has become definitive over the past 15 years,” Lodge said. “So it feels like the perfect time to be joining the Variety family full-time as a film critic, across the pond from my colleague Owen Gleiberman. I will be taking over this role, following in the footsteps of my friend Peter DeBrugge, and whether it’s covering a long-awaited blockbuster or covering an under-the-radar film. I couldn’t be more excited to continue and build on his dedicated work by leading our formidable team of global critics, whether it’s discovering mainstream films or international masterpieces.”Writing about film is a great joy.In a way, I can write about anything.” In this new role, I plan to continue to do just that. ”
Lodge was born in Johannesburg and grew up in South Africa, England and the United States. He studied French and film studies at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), then moved to London to complete a master’s degree in screenwriting at the London Film School. Lodge’s career in film journalism began as a critic and reporter for the website In Contention.
Lodge is currently Vice-President of the London Film Critics Association, Chair of the British Independent Film Awards Nominating Committee, and is a voting member of the BAFTAs.
