The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) drew to a spectacular close, marking the end of a nine-day cinematic celebration in Goa. The prestigious Golden Peacock for Best Feature Film was awarded to Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair's compelling drama, 'Skin of Youth'.
Celebrating Global Cinema: The Major Winners
The festival's international competition saw a diverse range of films being honoured. 'Skin of Youth', which captivated the jury, tells the powerful story of a turbulent romance between San, a transgender sex worker seeking gender-affirming surgery, and Nam, an underground cage fighter working to support his son.
In the directing categories, Indian talent shone brightly. Santosh Davakahar secured the Best Director prize for the Marathi thriller 'Gondhal'. Meanwhile, the award for Best Debut Director for an Indian Feature Film was bagged by Karan Singh Tyagi for 'Kesari 2'.
The acting accolades were claimed by international stars. Ubeimar Rios won the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male) for his role in the Colombian film 'A Poet' (Un Poeta), directed by Simon Mesa Soto. The Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female) was awarded to Jara Sofija Ostan for her performance in the Slovenian film 'Little Trouble Girls'. Each of these acting awards came with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.
Special Awards and OTT Recognition
A significant honour, the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, was presented to the Norwegian film 'Safe House', directed by Eirik Svensson. The film was recognized for its outstanding contribution to promoting peace, non-violence, and intercultural dialogue. Set over 15 intense hours inside a Doctors Without Borders hospital during the 2013 civil war in the Central African Republic, 'Safe House' is a gripping, humane drama inspired by true events that explores the ethics of care and courage in a war zone.
In the digital space, the Best Web Series (OTT) award was secured by the highly acclaimed 'Bandish Bandits Season 2'. The Hindi series, directed by Anand Tiwari and created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, was unanimously selected by the jury for its exceptional work in making arts and music accessible to a wide audience.
A Grand Finale and a Legend Honoured
The closing ceremony, held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, was a grand affair that not only celebrated the current year's cinematic achievements but also paid tribute to a legend. The festival honoured superstar Rajinikanth for his remarkable 50 years in Indian cinema, adding a touch of nostalgia and reverence to the glittering event.
The 56th IFFI successfully wrapped up, having provided a vital platform for filmmakers from around the world to showcase their work and for audiences to experience a rich tapestry of global storytelling.
