49th INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA (IFFI)

About:

• This event was jointly conducted by the Union Ministry of Information and broadcasting, Directorate of Film Festivals and the Government of Goa.
  
  

Highlights of 49^th IFFI:

• ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal:
  • IFFI collaborates with the International Council for Film, Audio-visual Communication (ICFT) Paris, to present a special ICFT prize consisting of the UNESCO Gandhi Medal to a film that portrays the Gandhian values of peace and harmony.
    
    
  • This year the award was given to Ladakhi film ‘Walking with the Wind’ by director Praveen Morchhale.
    
    
  
  
  
• Focus state: This is for the first time that any state has been made focus state at IFFI. Under this, films focussed on the state such as Death in the Gunj, Begum Jaan will be showcased.
  
  
• Focus Country:
  
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Wolman (Israel).
  
  
• IFFI Special Award for lifetime contribution to cinema: Writer Salim Khan. He, along-with Javed Akhtar, is credited for writing the screenplays of several super-hit films such as Deewar and Zanjeer, and Sholay, which is one of the greatest hits of Indian cinema.
  
  
• Golden peacock Award for the best film: Donbass (A Russian-Ukrainian film).
  
  
• Best Director Award: Lijo Jose Pellissery for Malayalam film “Ee Maa Yove”.
  
  
• Best Actor (Male) Award: Chemban Vinod for his role in “Ee Maa Yove”.
  
  
• Best Actor (Female) Award: Anastasiia Pustovit for her role in Ukrainian film “When the Trees Fall”.
  
  
• This year, as an extension of the Khelo India Branding, Indian Sports Biopics were screened. Films included in the section are Gold, Mary Kom, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, 1983, MSD: The untold story and Soorma.