From Shah Rukh to John, Bollywood makes its presence felt at IFFI

Around 200 regional and international works of cinematic excellence were screened during the event.

The top award at the festival — the Golden Peacock award — went to The Wall, a film from Taiwan, based on the white terror of the 1950s. Directed by Lin Chih Ju, the film outwitted 13 other films from Asia, Africa and Latin America. A jury headed by Hungary’s filmmaker Marta Meszaros and including Malayalam director Shaji N Karun selected the film. Renowned Bengali filmmaker Buddhabeb Dasgupta, who was the chief guest at the closing ceremony on Monday, gave away the award and a citation which will be sent to Taiwan. In the promising director category, Thailand’s debutant director Pongpat Wachirabunjong bagged the silver peacock for his movie My Myself.

The special jury award went to Bangaladeshi film On The Wings of Dreams and Mexican film More Than Anything In The World. A total 145 films from 66 countries were screened in the festival. Pakistani film Khuda Ke Liye remained a top favourite at the event. The choice of films for Indian Panorama section was much appreciated by delegates. The section had 21 feature and 15 non-feature films comprising two movies each by Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Adoor Gopalkrishnan.

“It was an amazing cultural experience to see people from this part of the world. We got to see the films which America does not,” New Zealand-based director Robert Sarkies, who was part of the jury, said.

Directorate of film festivals (DFF) director Neelam Kapur in her remarks said that plans are already under discussion to bring about improvements the next year festival. To the suggestion of raising prize money to encourage international participation, Kapur said it was among the measures being contemplated in this regard.