After celebrating world cinema for eight days, the 21st International Film Festival concluded on Friday, 16 December in Thiruvananthapuram. The biggest crowd puller at the festival was Egyptian director Mohamed Diab’s Clash, and it won the prestigious Golden Crow Pheasant Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh under the category of Best Feature Film. Clash also won the audience prize, Rajatha Chakoram, which is worth Rs 2 lakh.
The star-studded closing ceremony was attended by Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, cultural affairs minister AK Balan, directors Kamal and Sibi Malayil, actors Rima Kallingal and Geetu Mohandas, and many other dignitaries.
Two women directors, Vidhu Vincent and Turkish director Yesim Ustagolu, walked away with two important awards. Vidhu won the Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Debut Director for Manhole. She also received a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh for the movie, which was also selected under the category of Best Malayalam Film by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). Yesim Ustagolu won the Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Director for Clair Obscur, with a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh.
Mustafa Kara’s Turkish drama Cold of Kalandar was selected for the NETPAC Best Asian Film award, and Jack Zagha Kababie’s Warehoused won the FIPRESCI Award for the Best International Film.
Director Rajeev Ravi’s critically and commercially acclaimed film Kammattipadam won the NETPAC award for the Best Malayalam Film.
