THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Spanish film Portraits in a Sea of Lies , by Colombian director Carlos Gaviria, has bagged the Suvarna Chakoram for the Best Film in the 15th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) which concluded here on Friday. The award carries a purse of Rs15 lakh to be shared between the director and producer of the film and also a certificate.
The editing and screenplay of the film, which tells the story of two cousins who take a journey to recover their grandfather’s land in war-torn Colombia, has also been done by Carlos Gaviria. The director accompanied by the lead actress of the film, Paola Baldion, received the award from Minister for Cultural Affairs M A Baby.
The Rajatha Chakoram for the Best Director in the competition section was bagged by Argentinian director Julia Solomonoff for The Last Summer of La Boyita . The Director wins a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh and a certificate. The Rajatha Chakoram for the Best Debut Film in the competition section went to Turkish film Zephyr ’directed by Belma Bas which wins a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and a certificate.
I am Afiya Megha Abhimanyu Omar directed by Onir Anirban from India won a special mention by the International Jury which had Julie Dash as the chairperson and Maria Novara, Achipatpong Weerasethakul, Yashuhiro Hariki and Sooni Taraporewala as members.
The Rajatha Chakoram for the Audience Award was won by Indian film The Japanese Wife directed by Aparna Sen. The film won a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a certificate. The NETPAC Award for the Best Asian Film went to I am Afiya Megha Abhimanyu Omar directed by Onir for its challenging position and its consideration for presenting different sensitive issues of Indian society.
The NETPAC award for the Best Malayalam film was awarded to Veettilekkulla Vazhi directed by Dr Biju for its brave approach to a problem, terrorism, which, apart from India worries the whole world and for the message full of humanity present in the entire film.