Team Herald
PANJIM: The curtains came down on the Golden Jubilee edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday with French film ‘Particles’, directed by Blaise Harrison bagging the Golden Peacock Award for best film. The movie was also screened at Cannes Film Festival 2019.
Mollywood director Lijo Jose Pelliserry bagged the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director for his film ‘Jallikattu’, while Seu Jorge won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor (Male) for ‘Marighela’ and the Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor (Female) went to Usha Jadhav for the movie ‘Mai Ghat Crime No. 103/2005.’
The concluding function of the 8-day event at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao saw Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Babul Supriyo among a host of dignitaries from the political and cinematic landscape gracing the ceremony.
Interestingly, Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javdekar, who faced opposition from the pro-Mhadei lobby including the opposition parties, at the opening ceremony of IFFI, skipped the function.
Supriyo, who also has a film background sang ‘Ae Jindagi Gale Lagale’ (Hindi movie ‘Sadma’) a song composed by Ilaiyraja in his presence.
The music legend, along with veteran actor Prem Chopra, and celebrities from India and abroad including Takashi Miike, Vijay Deverakonda, Aanand L Rai walked the red carpet, adding to the colour and glamour of the star-studded evening. Ilaiyaraja, Prem Chopra, Manju Borah, Aravind Swamy and Haubam Paban Kumar were felicitated on the occasion.
CM Sawant, in his speech spoke about various initiatives taken up at IFFI this year including paperless tickets, ban on single use plastic, etc.
Information & Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare said that IFFI 2020 and 2021, will be a tribute to legendary filmmaker of India Satyajit Ray whose centenary celebrations will be observed from next year.
“The event has been quite successful in bringing together film enthusiasts from all over the world, along with well-known filmmakers, artists and film critics. It will be our endeavour to have the 51st IFFI on an even larger scale. The 50th edition of IFFI had more than 190 films screened from 76 different countries, which included 90 Indian premiers, six world premiers and 11 Asian premiers. It is a matter of pride that this year we screened 24 Oscar submissions at IFFI. More than 12,000 delegates participated, which is also a record number,” he said.
In order to celebrate the spirit of 50 Golden Years of IFFI, Films Division had curated a package of 17 MIFF award-winning films made in the last 10 years. Movies that gained recognition internationally at various other film festivals like Cannes film festival, Venice film festival, Berlin international film festival, Mumbai international film festival, Sundance film festival, Busan international film festival were also featured.
Deputy Chief Ministers Manohar Ajgaonkar and Chandrakanth Kavlekar, Members of Parliament Roopa Ganguly and Ravi Kishan, Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, Vice Chairman of Entertainment Society of Goa Subhash Phal Desai, CEO of Entertainment Society of Goa Amit Satija, IFFI Steering Committee members Shaji N Karun, Rahul Rawail, and International Jury members John Bailey, Robin Campillo, Ramesh Sippy were among those present.
