Pradeep Sardana
The nation bids adieu to its biggest film festival- Indian International Film Festival, with numerous pleasant and golden memories, on 28th November 2016. The festival which has been there for 9 days, was started on 20th November, and showcased 275 films of 88 countries. This 47th IFFI will be remembered for its many good films on the one hand, whereas for its remarkable incorporations of various new additions, on the other. Few of these initiatives, would prove to become the Milestone for Film makers, and create history.
One of the most appreciated initiatives, being the Centenary Award for Best Debut Feature of a Director, selected out of some of the outstanding directorial debuts of 2016 from across the world of cinema. This new competition category has the Silver Peacock and Rs 10 lakhs cash prize, as award.
Next new thing being, presenting ‘ICFT- UNESCO Gandhi Medal’ to the film that has reflected the Gandhi’s principles of Peace and Non Violence. The ICFT –UNESCO Gandhi Medal was given to Turkish film maker Mustafa Kara’s ‘Cold of Kalandar’. The movie is about a man who earns his living by breeding a few animals, while passionately looking for a mineral reserve on the mountains.
Also, this time a new section called BRICS Films section was introduced in the Festival, which has screened the Films from BRICS countries. This would surely play a vital role in strengthening the mutual relationships among these countries. Another important initiative had been the screening of three films for specially-abled children with unique audio described technology under ‘Sugamaya Bharat Abhiyan’. Another highly recognized initiative was the showcasing of 20 award winning short films from NFDC’s ‘Swachh Bharat Film Festival’.
The last and most talked about initiative had been the introduction of Film Promotion Fund, with the purpose to stimulate Indian cinema across the globe. Directorate of Film Festivals would implement this plan, of providing financial aid to the films which would be selected in any competition section of an International Film Festival or being India’s official nomination under Foreign Film Category. The best and interesting part being, that even after these new additions, the duration of festival has been decided as 9 days from this year, instead of 11 days as previous years.
Best Film award with the Golden Peacock Trophy and Rs. 40 lakhs cash prize was bagged by the Movie ‘Daughter’, received by its Director Reza Mirkarimi. Iran’s film ‘Daughter’ brings out intergenerational conflict between a strict father and a young daughter. The Best Director award was given to Baris Kaya for Turkey’s film ‘Rauf’, who collected the Silver Peacock Trophy and Rs. 15 lakhs cash prize. While Farhad Aslani won the Best Actor award for again the film ‘Daughter’, Elina Vaska won the Best Actress Award for the film ‘Mellow Mud’. Both received the Silver Peacock Trophy and Rs 10 lakhs cash prize each. ‘Rauf’ is the story of a search under the shade of a war and in tough natural conditions, and Latvia’s ‘Mellow Mud’ depicts the story of a young girl who must come to decisions that even a grown woman would find difficult to make.
Special Jury award was given to Lee Joon-ik for the Direction of the Korean movie ‘The Throne’, which is the story about the most tragic and iconic eight days in the history of Joseon Dynasty disclosing what forced a father to kill his own son. Lee got the Silver Peacock Award and a cash prize of Rs. 15 lakhs.
The Centenary Award for Best debut film of a Director was given to Argentina’s ‘Rara’, which reveals the relationship conflicts among the two sisters, their mother, and the mother’s female partner. The director Maria Jose collected the Silver Peacock Trophy with Rs 10 Lakh cash prize.
In addition to these, Im Kwon Taek, the Well Known Korean Film maker was honoured with Rs 10 lakh and a Shawl as The Lifetime Achievement Award, and SP Balasubrahmanyam, the renowned singer, was honoured with Silver Peacock Trophy and Rs 10 Lakh, as the Centenary Award for Indian Film personality of the year, in 47th IFFI.
The closing ceremony of IFFI 2016, was graced by the splendid speech of Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State, I&B. He eloquently spoke about the Single window system to promote India as a filming destination, films on Mobile screen as the part of Digital India, and revolutionary movement of Mutiplexes in India. He also talked about the power and role of Cinema in the country, as the medium for betterment of society. He has proudly mentioned about Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Gulzar and AR Rehman, who have made Indian cinema popular, across the globe.
Six Essentials of a successful International Film Festival
After closely covering various International Film Festivals, from last 30 years, my experience has led me to write the ‘Essentials of a successful International Film Festival’, which could be mentioned in six points. High the focus would be on these points; higher would be the success rate of that Film Festival. First, the globally acknowledged film makers should be keen to send their films for the festival. Second, the festival should have world premier of maximum films. Third, the popular personalities from the cinema worldwide should come to participate or attend the festival. Fourth, no one should doubt or question upon the merit of the films that are to be awarded in the festival, and such decisions should be widely accepted. Fifth, the festival should showcase some Classic and Memorable films, which have become scarce in their availability, and are rare to watch otherwise. Sixth and last, is the overall administration of the festival. This includes a High Tech venue, and the facilities for the guests, representatives and media, which make them at ease to do their respective work. While the schedules for screening of films should be systematic, the festival also should have good arrangements of accommodation and food for all.
This is the matter of proud for India, that our International Festival has been meeting these high criterions, to a great extent, thus getting popularity, respect and appreciation worldwide.
