The 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), 2024Friday culminated in an impressive final in Thiruvananthapuram. On that occasion, Mr. We all imagine as light (AWIAL) Director Payal KapadiaThe first Indian to receive the Cannes Grand Prix award – the second-most prestigious award at the festival after the Palme d’Or – was honored with the Spirit of Cinema Award. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the closing ceremony held at Nishagandhi Auditorium while Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian presided over the programme.
Awards given by the organizers were also presented in the event. While the Suvarna Chakoram Best Film Director Pedro Freire’s Brazilian drama Malu, Iranian filmmaker Farshad Hashemi has been awarded. Rajata Chakoram For Best Director for his plays Me, Maryam, Children and 26 others. The Rajata Chakoram Best Debut Director was presented to Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cocina for their Chilean film The Hyperborean. Angha Ravi (Appuram) and Chinamaya Siddi (Rhythm of Dammam) received Special Jury Mention for their performances, while director Hala Elkousi’s East of Noon received a Special Jury Mention for Technical Excellence. Faasil Mohammad was recognized for his work in the Best Screenplay category Feminist Fatima (Feminichi Fatima).
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Faasil Muhammad’s direction, meanwhile, received several accolades including the Audience Poll Award, organized by the Asian Film Center (NETPAC) and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Film Centers (FIPRESCI), organized by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). The NETPAC Award went to Feminist Fatima for Best Malayalam Film and Me, Mariam, The Children and 26 others for Best Asian Film, with director Midhun Murali’s Kiss Wagon earning a Special Jury Mention. The FIPRESCI Awards recognized Feminist Fatima as the Best International Film and director Shivaranjini J’s Victoria as the Best Malayalam Film. The KR Mohanan Award for Best Debut Director from India instituted by the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) was presented to Indu Lakshmi for Appuram, while Feminist Fatima received the FFSI Special Mention.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan noted that the 29th edition of IFFK has been widely recognized for its focus on women-centric politics. “Of the 177 films screened, 40 were directed by women. I am proud that this festival has also become a symbol of our unity,’ he said. Mentioning that tributes were paid at the festival PK RosieThe first actress of Malayalam cinema, with its signature film, the Chief Minister stressed that the IFFK stands in solidarity with the rights of the oppressed and marginalized.
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Addressing the gathering, Payal Kapadia, who was introduced as the “Iron Lady of Pune FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) by Kerala State Film Academy (KSCA) President Premkumar,” remarked: “I made a film in Malayalam, which was a Crazy idea, but I got a lot of help from the people here.”
“The Spirit of Cinema Award will be a great inspiration to produce socially relevant films. I am very proud of the support this film has received in Kerala and I accept this recognition with great pleasure. The heroine of my film has won many awards. Now, I am happy to share this happiness with them,” Payal added.
He also congratulated Feminist Fatima for winning many awards.
In his address, Revenue and Housing Minister K Rajan said that watching movies is both a cultural and political activity. He also praised the organizers of the festival for starting a blood donation campaign called Cine Blood.
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KSCA President Prem Kumar, Director of Cultural Affairs Divya S Iyer, Armenian filmmakers Serge Avedician and Nora Armani, IFFK Festival Curator Golda Salem, French cinematographer Golda Salem, chaired the International Jury for the competition section of IFFK20Gods204 Agnère were prominently present at the closing ceremony. Kerala K Madhupal State Cultural Workers Welfare Fund Board, KSCA General Assembly Member Sohan Senulal and KSFDC Managing Director Priyadarshan.
This year’s IFFK screened 177 films from 68 countries in 15 theaters of the capital. The festival opened on 13 December with a Portuguese political biographical drama I’m still here (2024) and unfolded over eight days under the theme of “intersectionality” reflected in its logo and branding. With Bollywood icon Shabana Azmi as the chief guest, the inauguration ceremony saw renowned Hong Kong (SAR PRC) filmmaker Ann Hui receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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