Donbass Bags The “Golden Peacock” Award at IFFI Goa 2018
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI Goa 2018) held a glittering prize distribution ceremony on 28th Nov, 2018 in a magnificent stadium Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa University, Teleigao, Goa.
The 1st ever prize went to a Ukranian movie named Donbass’ which was directed by Sergei Loznitsa, who bagged the coveted “Golden Peacock” award at the 49thInternational Film Festival of India (IFFI Goa 2018), which concluded in Goa on 8th Nov, 2018. The “Golden Peacock” award also carried a cash prize of Rs 4 million (Rs 40 lakhs Indian rupees) to be shared equally between the Producer & the Director, along with a special Trophy & the citation.
Incidentally speaking Donbass tells the story of a hybrid war taking place in a region of Eastern Ukraine, involving an open armed conflict alongside killings & robberies perpetrated on a mass scale by separatist gangs. In Donbass, war is called peace & propaganda is uttered as truth. A journey through Donbass unfolds as a series of curious adventures. This is not just a tale of 1 region or a political system; it is about a world lost in post-truth & fake identities.
Donbass is the official submission of Ukraine for the “Best Foreign Language Film” category at the 91st Academy Awards to be held in the upcoming year 2019. It was selected as the opening film in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. At Cannes, Sergei Loznitsa won the “Un Certain Regard” award as “Best Director”.
The award winners were Lijo Jose Pellissery who was conferred with a “Best Director” award for his Malayalam movie Ee.Ma.Yau. The film was a stunning satire on death & how it affects the human lives. Set in Chellanam, a coastal village in Kerala, the film shows the plight of a son who tries to arrange a worthy funeral for his father; he is however met with unpredictable obstacles & reactions from different quarters. Lijo Jose Pellissery bagged the Silver Peacock Award & a cash prize of Rs 1.5 million (Rs 15 lakhs Indian rupees). He had also bagged the Best Director award at the 48th Kerala State Film Awards for Ee.Ma.Yau.
While the “Best Actor” (Male) award went to Chemban Vinod for his portrayal of a role in the same Malyalam movie Ee.Ma.Yau of “Eeshi”, a son who tries to arrange a worthy funeral for his father but is met with unpredictable obstacles & reactions from different quarters.
And the “Best Actor” (Female) award went to Anastasiia Pustovit for her portrayal of a “Larysa”, a teenage girl in the Ukrainian movie named When The Trees Fall.
Both the “Best Actor” (Male) Chemban Vinod & the “Best Actor” (Female) Anastasiia Pustovit were honored with the “Silver Peacock” Trophy & a cash prize of Rs 1 million (Rs 10 lakhs Indian rupees) each.
Besides Milko Lazarov walked away with the “Special Jury” award for his movie named Aga; the film focuses on the story of Sedna & Nanook, an elderly couple from Yakutia & the particular challenges they face in the midst of a frigid landscape. The “Special Jury” award carried a cash prize of Rs 1.5 million (Rs 15 lakhs Indian rupees), a “Silver Peacock” award & a citation.
That apart Alberto Monteras II received the “Centenary Award for “Best Debut Feature Film” of a Director for his Filipino Movie Respeto.
And the movie Walking With The Wind, directed by Praveen Morchhale, won The ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal instituted by the International Council for Film, Television & Audiovisual Communication, Paris & UNESCO. The criteria for the Gandhi Medal reflect UNESCO’s fundamental mandate of building peace in the mind of men & women, particularly human rights, intercultural dialogue, promotion & safeguard of diversity of cultural expressions.
Walking With The Wind’ tells the story of a 10 year old boy in the Himalayan Terrain, who mistakenly breaks his friend’s school chair. His daily 7 km long journey to school in the mountainous terrain on a donkey, turns mammoth & challenging when he decides to bring the chair to his village.
Los Silencios, the Portuguese, Spanish movie directed by Beatriz Seigner got the “Special Mention” under ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi medal category.
And over & above all Salim Khan, the celebrated actor, story-screenplay-dialogue writer of Hindi films was honored with the IFFI 2018 “Special Award” for his Lifetime Contribution to Cinema. The prestigious award consisting of a cash prize of Rs 1 million (Rs 10 lakhs Indian rupees), a Certificate & a Shawl & also a Scroll was conferred upon the master film writer for his “Outstanding Contribution To Cinema”.
Salim Khan revolutionized Indian cinema in the 1970’s, transforming & reinventing the Bollywood formula, pioneering the Bollywood blockbuster format & pioneering genres such as the masala film & the Dacoit in Western style.
