IRAN’S ‘AT 5 IN THE AFTERNOON’
BAGS GOLDEN PEACOCK
SILVER
PEACOCK FOR ISRAEL’S ‘JAMES’ JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
SPECIAL
JURY AWARD TO INDIA’S ‘PROHOR’
The Iranian Film
"At 5 In The Afternoon" directed by Samira Makhmalbaf
bagged the Golden Peacock and a cash prize of Rs.5,00,000 for
best film by an Asian Director at the 34th International
Film Festival of India, which concluded here today. The Silver
Peacock and a cash prize of Rs.2,50,000 for the most promising
Asian Director was awarded to Israel’s Ra’anan Alexadrowics for
his film "James’ Journey to Jerusalem". Special Jury
Award, Silver Peacock and Rs.2,50,000 was given to India’s Subhadro
Choudhury for his film "Prohor" (Bengali) which was
also the opening film of the Indian Panorama.
Samira Makhmalbaf,
recipient of the Golden Peacock Award announced that the cash
prize of Rs. 5,00,000 be given to the non-Governmental Organizations
involved in the promotion of human rights and the welfare of women
and children.
The awards were presented
by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shakar
Prasad at a glittering concluding ceremony. In his address, the
Minister said that the festival has succeeded in registering powerful
presence of Indian cinema, which was one of the objectives for
the current festival. Complimenting the Iranian film director
for getting the Golden Peacock award, the Minister said that the
director’s goodwill gesture would go a long way in furthering
the cordial relationship between the two nations.
Shri Prasad said
that the Government was committed to making Goa the permanent
venue of International Film Festival of India and the Director
General of Cannes Film Festival has been involved in providing
basic framework to make Goa a successful venue. He said the aim
is to integrate Indian film festival with the leading festivals
of the world and to engineer a premium place for the Indian festival
in the arena of international film festivals.
Shri Prasad reiterated
the Indian Government’s commitment to promoting Indian cinema.
He condemned the unfortunate incident and assured that those responsible
would be punished.
Announcing the awards
the Chairman of the Jury of Asian Competition Section, Polish
filmmaker Mr. Krzysztof Zanussi expressed happiness that the Asian
films expressed deep concern about the basic human values, which
are missed in the European films.
The 34th
International Film Festival showcased 250 films including Indian
feature and non-feature films from over 36 countries. It provided
the perfect platform for interaction among filmmakers, filmgoers,
actors, journalists, film critics and film institutes students.
More than 3000 delegates from India and abroad, prominent cine
personalities of India and about 500 journalists/media critics
from various parts of the country participated in the festival.
The salient feature
of the festival was All India Premier of three Indian Films namely;
"Pinjar" directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, "Maqbool"
by Vishal Bhardwaj and "Chokher Bali" by Rituprano Ghosh.
Apart from the Asian
Competition the other sections of the IFFI 2003 were the ‘Cinema
of the World’, ‘The Indian Panorama’, ‘Indian Retrospectives’,
‘Reflections’ and ‘Retrospectives’ of various countries. There
were 11 entries for the Asian Competition Section of which the
two Indian entries ‘Anaahat’ directed by Amol Palekar and ‘Prohor’
by Subhadro Chowdhury got rave reviews both by the Press and the
delegates. Veteran Norwegian actress Ms Liv Ullmann was given
the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Festival.
A large number of
people visited the Film Bazaar, which was set up at the venue
of IFFI-2003 during the Festival. Film Bazaar, which was organized
by National Film Development Corporation and inaugurated by the
Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad
showcased 24 stalls including some from abroad.
The ten day 34th
International Film Festival concluded here today, with the screening
of the Australian Film, "Rabit Proof Fence" directed
by Phillip Noyce.
