Donbass wins Golden Peacock at IFFI

Lijo Jose Pellissery bags Best Director Award; screenwriter Salim Khan honoured

In recognition: Actor Arbaaz Khan receiving the Life Time Achievement Award on behalf of his father Salim Khan from Goa Governor Mridula Sinha.

Ukrainian film Donbass , directed by Sergei Loznitsa, won the coveted Golden Peacock award at the 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which concluded here on Wednesday.

The award carries a cash prize of ₹40 lakh, a trophy and a citation.

Donbass tells the story of a hybrid war taking place in Eastern Ukraine, involving an open armed conflict alongside killings and robberies perpetrated on a mass scale by separatist gangs. In

Donbass , war is called peace and propaganda is uttered as truth.

Lijo Jose Pellissery won the Silver Peacock for Best Director for the Malayalam film

Ee.Ma.Yau , a stunning satire on death and how it affects human lives.

The Best Actor (Male) Award went to Chemban Vinod for his portrayal of ‘Eeshi’ in in Ee.Ma.Yau, while Anastasiia Pustovit won the Best Actor (Female) Award for her portrayal of a teenage girl ‘Larysa’ in the Ukrainian film When the Trees Fall .

Milko Lazarov walked away with the Special Jury Award for his film

Aga , which tells the story of Sedna and Nanook, an elderly couple from Yakutia, Russia, and the particular challenges they face in the midst of a frigid landscape.

Alberto Monteras II received the Centenary Award for Best Debut Feature Film of a Director for his Filipino movie Respeto .

Walking with the Wind , directed by Praveen Morchhale, won The ICFT –UNESCO Gandhi Medal instituted by the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication, Paris and UNESCO.

Los Silencios , a Portuguese-Spanish movie directed by Beatriz Seigner, got the Special Mention under ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi medal category.

Legendary story-screenplay-dialogue writer Salim Khan was honoured with the IFFI 2018 Special Award for his lifetime contribution to cinema, at the closing ceremony of the IFFI here. The award consisting of a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, certificate, shawl and a scroll was received on his behalf by his son Arbaaz Khan.

Golden jubilee

Union Tourism Minister K. J. Alphons along with a host of dignitaries from the political and cinematic landscape were present for the valedictory ceremony.

Secretary for Information & Broadcasting Amit Khare, in his introductory remarks said that preparations for the golden jubilee celebrations of the IFFI next year have already begun. He said that the government would showcase the film culture of each and every region of the country and trace the history of the IFFI from its 1st to the 49th editions.

He added that the facilities at Goa would be enhanced to ensure that the 50th IFFI can accomodate more delegates.