As the 53rd edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI-53) came to a close Monday, Spanish film I Have Electric Dreams by Costa Rican filmmaker Valentina Maurel bagged the Golden Peacock Award 2022. Spanish film director Carlos Saura was honoured with Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, while Megastar Chiranjeevi was awarded the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2022.
The glittering closing ceremony of IFFI-53 was held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, in Talegaon, Goa on Monday.
Tengo sueños eléctricos/I Have Electric Dreams, which was awarded the best film at IFFI-53, explores 16-year-old girl Eva’s passage into adulthood, a process that is not just about getting older, a process which so profound that sometimes it can break people in a certain way.
Iranian writer and director Nader Saeivar bagged Silver Peacock for Best Director for No End, a magical and subtle portrayal of Iran’s regressive socio-political system. The Turkish film No End / Bi Payan, which depicts the manipulations and machinations of Iran’s secret police tells the story of Ayaz, a man of quiet integrity, who indulges in a lie involving the secret police in a desperate attempt to keep his house. Things get complicated when the real secret police enter the scene.
Vahid Mobasseri, lead actor of No End, was honoured with Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male), for transmitting the complexity of feelings that torment the protagonist. Daniela Marín Navarro, lead Actor of Best Film ‘I Have Electric Dreams’ is honoured with Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female).
The IFFI 53 Special Jury Award has gone to When the Waves are Gone by Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz. The film is a story of an investigator in the Philippines, who is at a deep moral crossroads. The film discusses his dark past that continues to haunt him even as he tries to heal from severe anxiety and guilt
IFFI honoured Director Asimina Proedrou, hailing from Athens, with the Award for the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director, for the film Behind the Haystacks, which had its International Premiere at the festival. The story invites viewers to partake in the journey of a man, his wife and his daughter, who are having to confront for the first time, when a crisis strikes, the price to pay for their actions.
Indian director, writer and cinematographer Praveen Kandregula has received Special Mention by the Jury for his film Cinema Bandi, the story of a poor and struggling auto driver who chances upon a deserted expensive camera, which gets him going on a journey from an auto-driver to a filmmaker.
Iranian film Nargesi by Director Payam Eskandari has won the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, given for a film that best reflects Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence. The film is about a man with Down’s syndrome and the burden and consequences it creates in his life. Compassion and tenderness are the two qualities depicted in this award-winning film.
In his virtual message, Director Payam Eskandari thanked the IFFI jury members. “It is a big honour to receive this award, I want to thank those people who believed in me, to make this movie, especially my family - my lovely wife and all cast and crew of Nargesi.” He further said, he believes people with ‘Down's Syndrome’ are the angels of God and there are many beautiful stories about their life which should be heard.
This year, nine films from across the globe were chosen to compete for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal.
Mega Star of Tollywood, Padma Bhushan awardee Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad popularly known as Chiranjeevi has been presented with Indian Film Personality of the Year Award for 2022.
‘I bow my head and thank each and every one of you. If anybody has the idea of coming to cinema industry, please do come, this is a corruption-less profession, you will have no guilt conscience, if you have talent, you can project it, and you will grow sky-high,” he said.
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur said IFFI opened up a nuanced world of cinema for audiences across the region, both young and old, new delegates and festival veterans.
“IFFI not only entertained but also educated us. IFFI tickled our humour and refined their senses... Over the last nine days, IFFI curated the screenings of 282 films clocking 35,000 minutes of viewing time. The festival featured 183 international films and 97 Indian films in 65 international and 15 Indian languages from 78 countries worldwide. Over 20 Masterclasses, In-Conversation sessions and a long list of celebrity events were held, out of which several sessions were accessible not just physically but even virtually,” Thakur said.
The minister added that the diversity showcased at the festival is the living embodiment of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ that brought together creative thinkers, film makers, cinema lovers and cultural enthusiasts from all over the world under one roof.
The minister reiterated his commitment to give a strong emphasis to regional cinema and provide a platform for its growth. Regional cinema is no more regional, it has gone to national and international, he added.
“This year we have seen many films like RRR, KGF and others making the international rise. Recently, we had a delegation from Bangladesh and from Central Asian countries consisting of more than 80 youth. All they wanted was to listen to the Hindi film songs and regional film songs. They talked about movies from the era of Midhun Chakraborthy to Akshay Kumar and Chiranjeevi, which cut across boundaries. If content is strong, it does not stay in the limits of a particular region.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant welcomed all and said that the entire state of Goa is a film city with a natural set, scenic beauty and hospitable people. The people of Goa love art, culture and music. Being a popular tourist destination, the state of Goa has attained a cosmopolitan outlook with diversity in cuisine, language and lifestyle.
He expressed happiness on being able to create special screening facilities under a special section for Divyang Jan. The CM mentioned that more than 12,000 registered participations took place in the festival this year. He stated that India celebrates various forms of knowledge and art and this country also believes in the philosophy of global brotherhood (Vasudaiva Kutumbakam) and hence Goa draws global delegates every year.
He mentioned that Goa is also emerging as a destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism. He extended invitation to all for attending upcoming global events in Goa like the G20 Summit, World Ayurveda Congress and Purple Fest.
Noted film personalities Asha Parekh, Akshay Kumar, Prasenjit Chatterjee, Ayushmann Khurrana, Esha Gupta, Manushi Chillar and Sharman Joshi were felicitated by the Union I & B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Pramod Sawant and Minister of State Dr L Murugan.
The veteran actor Asha Parekh said that the release of her first ever film 'Dil Deke Dekho' is till date the best moment in her career. “I like Deepika Padukone the most amongst the present-day Hindi film's female actor”.
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana said, "Whatever social and cultural issues I have raised, are through my films".
South India's big star Ramanaidu 'Rana' Daggubati spoke about the future of cinema. “In the future we may have cinema that is not just 2D, but interactable in some form,” he added. Speaking about IFFI, he said, with today's changing voices, festivals create the ecosystem for independent voices to thrive, according to a PIB release.
