Shimla film fest: On my way wins Best Feature Film award

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 18

French movie ‘On My Way’, directed by Thierry Obadia, won the Best Feature Film award at the 10th International Film Festival of Shimla, where 105 films from 27 nations and 22 states of India were showcased.

The film festival concluded here today at the historic Gaiety Theatre.

In the international category, ‘Here After By Gone’, directed by Safeer Mohamed Mohmed from Sri Lanka, won the Special Jury Feature Film award.

‘The Passion of Mahmoud’, directed by Davoud Abdolmaleki from Iran, won the Best Long Documentary award, while ‘Suspended’, directed by Mohammad Sadeq Esmaeeli from Iran, won the Best Short Documentary award.

Persian short film ‘The voice of Dogs’, directed by Mohammad Reza Nazi from Iran, won the Best Short Film award, while Bengali film ‘Raven’, directed by Zayed Siddiki from Bangladesh, won the Special Jury Short Film award.

‘The Splint’, directed by Mehdi Sedighi from Iran, won the Best Animation Film award, and Persian film ‘The Borders Never Die’, directed by Hamidreza Arjomandi from Iran, won the Best Student Film award.

In the national category, ‘Najuss-An Impure Story’, directed by Sreejith Poyilkavu, won the Best Feature Film award, while Assamese movie ‘Iron Girls’, directed by Rajen Das, won the Special Jury Feature Film award.

‘Ithuvare’, a Malayalam film directed by Dr Titus Peter, won the Festival Mention Feature Film award.

Documentary film ‘In Search Of Ajantrik’, directed by Meghnath, won the Best Long Documentary award, while ‘Slaves of the Empire’, directed by Rajesh James from Kerala, won the Special Jury Long Documentary award.

The Best Short Film award was won by Bengali short film ‘Rukhsana’, directed by Ayush Bhattacharya, while ‘Mr Tendulkar’, a short film featuring actress Seema Biswas, a National Award winner, won the Special Jury Short Film award.

‘Dhvani-The Sound Around’, directed by Anurag Dwivedi from Uttarakhand, won the Best Short Documentary award.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla presided over the closing ceremony of the festival.

The third day of the festival saw a legion of visitors thronging the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex to enjoy the mega-carnival of cinema.

Festival director Pushp Raj Thakur said the three-day event, held from August 16 to 18, aimed at showcasing the best of world cinema and providing a platform for filmmakers and talent from across the world.

“The 10th edition of the International Film Festival of Shimla, being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Language and Culture, by Himalayan Velocity, proved to be a gala affair that celebrated the art of storytelling through the lens of diverse cultures and perspectives,” he added.

“The festival featured competitions in international, national and state categories. Specially curated sessions focusing on issues, themes, countries and the works of filmmakers were held. Sixty independent directors, whose films were screened at the festival, graced the three-day event,” Thakur said.

“IFFS, which has been organised since 2015, strives to promote a vibrant movement in documentary films, short films, feature films, animation films, music videos and web series,” he added.