Curtains Come Down on the 42nd International Film Festival of India

'Porfirio' Bags Golden Peacock for Best Film, Asghar Farhadi Receives Best Director Award

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | December 5, 2011

The Columbian film 'Porfirio' directed by Alejandro Landes and produced by Franciso Aljure has bagged the coveted Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film at the 42nd International Film Festival of India 2011, while the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Director went to Asghar Farhadi for his film 'Nader and Simin-A Seperation'. The Indian film 'Adaminte Makan Abu' won the Special Jury Award. Director of the film Salim Ahamed received the award which consists of a Silver Peacock, Certificate and a Cash Prize of Rs. 15 Lakhs, in the presence of the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Shri Choudhury Mohan Jatua, the Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat and the famous actor Suriya best known for his roles in films like 'Kaakha Kaakha', 'Vaaranam Aayiram' who was the Chief Guest of the closing function here today.

The Best Actor award of Rs. 10 lakh went to the Israeli actor Sasson Gabay for his role in the film 'Restoration' whereas the Best Actress Award was won by Nadezhda Markina for her role in 'Elena'.

The above films were chosen by a five member Competition Jury comprising Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Laurence Kardish, Lee Yong Kwan, Tahmineh Milani and Dan Wolman.

The festival concluded today with the screening of the English film 'The Lady' directed by acclaimed French Director Luc Besson, which starred Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis in lead roles. At the closing ceremony, a one minute silence was observed to pay tribute to the departed soul of Brazilian Director, Oscar Maron Filho, who passed away during the festival.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Shri Choudhury Mohan Jatua said that the International Film Festival of India gives a rare opportunity of viewing the best of international films. Expressing his happiness at the success of the festival, he hoped that the trend keeps on continuing in the future.

Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat said that as everything comes to an end, the 42nd International Film Festival of India also has culminated into a glorious end. He spoke about the great satisfaction that the delegates experienced during the festival and said that the festival has moved from strength to strength.

Shri Suriya, the chief guest at the closing ceremony said that it is his first appearance at the International Film Festival of India and he was really excited to be there. He said that creative content needs to be shared across the nation and outside.

Festival Director, Shri Shankar Mohan said that the International Film Festival of India is an endeavour to bring in the best of cinematic talents from across the world and gives an opportunity to filmmakers to showcase their creative talents. He thanked the jury members, delegates and officials for making the festival a success.

The eleven day cinematic extravaganza which began on November 23rd with the screening of the Portuguese film 'The Consul of Bordeaux' witnessed the screening of a variety of diverse films from India and from across the world. Special attractions of the 42nd International Film Festival of India included 'Retrospectives' of eminent filmmakers like Luc Besson and Phillip Noyce; 'Homages' to cinematic luminaries like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Leacock, Sidney Lumet and others; 'Festivals Kaleidoscope'; 'Country Focus on USA'; 'Russian Classics'; 'Spotlight on Poland', Documentaries along with first time packages like '3D Cinema-The Third Dimension', 'Sketches on Screens', 'Soccer in Cinema' and others.

During the course of the festival besides film shows, a host of film related events like Master Class, Open Forums, Film Bazaar by NFDC, 3D Visual Experience Summit and the Short Film Centre were also held to facilitate interaction and business meets in this sector. Master Classes taken by Hugh Welchman on 'Realising Animation', Resul Pookutty on 'Weaving the Magic of Sound in Cinema' and Phillip Noyce on 'From Concept to Film, the Phil Noyce Way', were great hits.

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