The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded recently in Goa, celebrating the magic of cinema. The festival showcased over 200 films from 75 countries, honouring exceptional talent with an enriching global cinematic dialogue. The event came to a climax with the presentation of prestigious awards, recognising the best in films from around the world, writes ABHI SINGHAL

The curtains fell down at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), marking a significant few days in the universe of cinema and cinema lovers. As the festival came to an end, it left an indelible mark on the cinephiles, celebrating the art of storytelling and the creative forces behind it.

2024 marked the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India that took place on 20 to 28 November, 2024 at Panaji, Goa. The festival showcased around 200 films from 75 countries, including 15 world premieres, 3 international premieres, 40 Asian premieres, and 106 Indian premieres. Featuring celebrated titles and award-winning films from around the world, this year’s festival promised to make a powerful impression on the audience.

The nine day film festival brought together pioneers from the film industry including directors, actors, cinephiles and awarded the best ones in the game.

The festival concluded with the Closing film, “Dry Season”, directed by Czech filmmaker Bohdan Sláma, encapsulating the story of humanity, sustainability, and generational bonds.

The closing night’s most awaited segment was the presentation of the prestigious awards, recognising exceptional talent and storytelling.

The highest honour Golden Peacock for the Best Film presented by Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa and Ashutosh Gowariker, Jury Chairperson of the International Competition was bagged by Lithuanian film Toxic. Toxic is a film by Lithuanian filmmaker and screenwriter Saule Bliuvaite. His  debut feature film delivers a raw and haunting coming-of-age story of friendship. The Jury praised the film for exploring adolescence and the harsh realities of growing up in an economically deprived society, with so much sensitivity and empathy.

The Silver Peacock for Best Director was awarded to Romanian writer and director Bogdan Muresanu for his film, The New Year That Never Came. The accreditation recognised his outstanding direction and exquisite storytelling on screen with that film.

Claiming the Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor in the Male category was Clément Faveau. He was recognised for his incredible and compelling performance in the French film Holy Cow, expressing the emotional ups and downs of the protagonist, while traversing from ages of innocence to maturity. For the same, the Jury also made a special mention to actor Adam Bessa for his portrayal of Bilal, in the Tunisian film Who Do I Belong To. The actor was lauded for his nuanced and restrained performance in the film.

The actors Vesta Matulyte and Ieva Rupeikaite jointly were bestowed with the  Silver Peacock for Best Actor in the Female category for their extraordinary debut performances for the film ‘Toxic.’

The Special Jury Award was handed over to French filmmaker Louise Courvoisier. The actor was acknowledged for the creative excellence in filmmaking for the film ‘Holy Cow.’ The film shows that after losing his father, 18-year-old Totone (Faveau) must mature quickly to care for his younger sister and manage their family farm in Jura. The film showcases how his responsibilities grow further as he competes for the title of the region's best Comté cheese.

Familiar Touch by Sarah Friedland was bestowed with the Award for the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director. The film has been marketed as a coming-of-(old)-age story. ‘Familiar Touch’ centers on an octogenarian woman (Kathleen Chalfant) navigating the challenges of transitioning to assisted living. The film has explored her evolving relationship with herself and her caregivers as she faces the realities of cognitive decline.

Director Navjyot Bandiwadekar bagged the Best Debut Director of Indian Feature Film for his exceptional storytelling in the Marathi Film Gharat Ganpati. The award marked the IFFI’s commitment to nurturing the emerging Indian filmmakers.  The film has been selected from the list of other five feature-films, the Jury chaired by cinematographer and director Santhosh Sivan, agreed that the film was well crafted with robust performances and captures the complexities of familial bonds, the deep emotional resonance makes the film a standout debut.

The prestigious ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal to celebrate the cinematic works that promote peace, tolerance, and dialogue, was awarded to the film Crossing by Levan Akin. The Jury praised the film for its stunning cinematic qualities and its thought-provoking exploration of gender equality with social understanding.

The Best Web Series (OTT) Award went to Lampan airing on Sony Liv. The web series was recognised for the transformative shift in storytelling, innovation and artistic merit in the digital space. ‘Lampan’ has been directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari.

The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Australian Filmmaker Phillip Noyce.

Coming to the last but not the least, making the Indian Film Industry proud, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa and Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting presented Indian Film Personality of the Year to actor Vikrant Massey. On receiving the award Vikrant said, “This is really a special moment for me; I never imagined I would get this award. There will be ups and downs in life but we should be ready to restart as my character did in the film, 12th Fail. I am a storyteller at heart, I choose the scripts to be able to become the voice of the common people.” Massey also further said that, “Own yourself, own your stories, own your roots wherever you come from. Indian Film industry is one of the spectacular industries to be part of.”

There was special felicitation for the Iconic Indian Director Ramesh Sippy and celebrated actor Jaya Prada for their contribution to the Indian Cinema in the ceremony by the Chief Minister of Goa and Sanjay Jaju.

Embracing the enriching power of the cinema, extending hand to young filmmakers and ending the IFFI 2024, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Jury Chairperson of the International Competitions, said, “All the movies selected for the competition stood tall. A great film doesn't just tell us a story, it changes us. To all the young filmmakers, let the light inside you burn brighter so that one day your vision will be seen by the world."

With the theme of ‘Young Filmmakers: The Future is Now’, 55th IFFI ensured a platform for young filmmakers, said Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

The evening reached its zenith with a mesmerising finale by actress and dancer Shriya Saran, titled as “Rhythms of India” showcasing the richness of Indian classical and folk traditions.

The IFFI 2024 was not just a cinematic showcase but was a festival that soared with cultural exchange, artistic celebrations, and an undying commitment to the future of films in the country and globally.

From illuminating conversations to inspiring mentorship, from India and other countries, unifying pioneers in cinema and unforgettable screenings, IFFI 2024 offered a transformative experience for film lovers worldwide.