Ozhivudivasathe Kali (An off-day game), directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, won the FIPRESCI award for the Best Malayalam Film. Israeli film Yona, directed by Nir Bergman, won the NETPAC award for the Best Asian Film. The film’s cinematographer Lutz Reitemeier received the award on the director’s behalf. The awards were given away by Governor P. Sathasivam at the valedictory ceremony held at Nishagandhi Auditorium.
Iranian film-maker Dariush Mehrjui, who pioneered the Iranian new wave, was conferred with this year’s Lifetime Achievement award. Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan congratulated the organising committee for the successful organising of the festival.
“While celebrating the success of this festival, we should also think about marketing our films to foreign audiences. The government should take steps to implement the recommendations of the Adoor Gopalakrishnan committee,” he said.Minister for Cinema Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the aim was to increase the delegate participation in the festival to 25,000 by the 25th edition.
