Matribhumi Samachar English
Cinephiles and enthusiasts, hold your breath! The 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) presents the much-awaited awards for its best films, filmmakers and technicians, who have mesmerized both the audience and jury with their master creations. As curtains fall on the 18th edition, we bring to you here the list of winners. So let the celebrations begin!
The Indian film ‘The Golden Thread’, directed by Nistha Jain bagged the coveted Golden Conch award for the Best Documentary at MIFF 2024. The film is both an homage to and an observation of the how last vestiges of the industrial revolution were impacted by the forces of economic change. The film, adjudged as the best documentary of the South Asia’s oldest and largest film festival for non-fiction, not only illustrates the relationship of man to machine but also questions how capitalism values man as equal only to his labor.
Announcing the top award, the Jury expressed, “The stunning imagery and sound, depicted in the film weave a beautiful narrative that reminds us of the reason why documentary is still such a compelling art form.”
The award carries a Golden Conch, certificate and cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs.
Best International Short Fiction Film: ‘Sour Milk’ (Estonia)
‘Sour Milk’, a short film directed by Vera Pirogova from Estonia bagged the Best International Short Fiction Film award. The award carries a Silver Conch and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs.
Sour Milk eloquently portrays the intricate bond between mother and son, weaving a narrative rich in expectation and disappointment. The film’s subtle and yet skilled direction guides viewers through a universal story of familial struggle and growth, where unspoken emotions shape the journey, illustrating that even the primal bonds of a mother and a son left untended can sometimes curdle like milk.
Best International Animation Film: ‘Zima’ (Poland)
‘Zima’, a film directed by Tomek Popakul, Kasumi Ozeki from Poland won the Best International Animation Film. The award carries a Silver Conch and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs.
The film portrays a fishing village where there is both violence and warmth as both humans and animals struggle to coexist with their own kind in an avant-garde abstract and courageous animated story. The simplicity of the monochromatic treatment belies a magical, expressive often dark underlying visual narrative punctuated by a muted spot of color, here, depicting pain, there, a sign of shame, an overall dystopian yet enthralling story as if it were a folktale from an unknown wintery land.
“Pramod Pati Award” for Most Innovative / Experimental Film (to Director Only): ‘The Old Young Crow’ (Japan)
‘The Old Young Crow’, directed by Liam Lopinto from Japan has won the “Pramod Pati Award” for Most Innovative / Experimental Film”. The award carries a trophy and cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh.
‘The Young Old Crow’ is an inventive, magical storytelling of multiple dualities – two worlds defined by languages, cultures, generations, the living and the dead, even the mediums of animation and live action film. This creative kaleidoscope also manages simultaneously to incorporate a masterpiece of emotive texture involving nostalgia, family, loss, isolation and death within these complex layers.
Special Jury Mention: ‘Lovely Jackson’ (United States of America)
‘Lovely Jackson’, directed by Matt Waldeck has won the Special Jury Mention award.
‘Lovely Jackson’ is a riveting story of broken dreams, forgiveness and a mother’s love but ultimately it is a portrait of how the human spirit can maintain courage and resilience in the face of extreme injustice, how one man could rise above his unbearable circumstance and find the strength not only to meet the worst with grace but to become a beacon of hope and redemption to others. The jury was inspired not only by the spirituality of the film but also the unusually creative techniques used to tell this compelling story.
Part- II- National Competition Awards
Best Indian Documentary Film: 6-A Akash Ganga
‘6-A Akash Ganga’ directed by Nirmal Chander Dandriyal won the Silver Conch award for Best Documentary Film (above 60 minutes) in National Competition section. The award carries silver conch and cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs.
The film is an entrancing intimate documentary with an invisible protagonist which hypnotically draws you into the reclusive and guarded world of legendary musician Annapurna Devi. Her brilliance and talent would have remained hidden but for this intimate telling by flute-player Nityanand Haldipur, disciple and gatekeeper to the legendary musician. He lets us into his world step by step telling the fascinating story of a famously gifted musician, guru, woman and wife whose artistic and personal life took unexpected turns over and over, leaving one in awe and profoundly moved.
Best Indian Short Fiction Film (upto 30 min.): Salt
‘Salt’ directed by Barkha Prashant Naik bagged the Silver Conch award for Best Indian Short Fiction Film (upto 30 min.) in National Competition section. The award carries silver conch and cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs.
A poignant and beautifully crafted father-son story which draws the picture of strain and silent grief in a household bereft of the mother and the process of learning to accept each other’s grief in a few original and raw masterful strokes. In just 11 minutes, Barkha manages to explore the tender inter generational understanding of sexuality in an unusual and refreshing way as the duo learns to navigate life moving forward.
Best Indian Animation Film: Nirjara
‘Nirjara’ directed by Gaurav Pati won the Silver Conch award for Best Indian Animation Film in National Competition section. The award carries a silver conch and cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs.
Nirjara is a beautifully storyboarded, understated and poetically told story of how two brothers re-unite in grief navigating rituals on the ghats of Ganga and emotionally handling the shared loss of their mother. It’s truly exceptional how this well written and accomplished dramaturgy in just 7 minutes, allows us to examine the nuanced relationship of a younger born and his elder brother invoking emotional resonance seldom explored in Indian animation.
Special Jury Mention: A Coconut Tree
‘A Coconut Tree’ directed by Joshy Benedict won the Special Jury Mention.
With this Special Mention the Jury highlighted, how this stunningly beautiful animation short addresses the severe and urgent topic of migration and climate change. The color scape and bleeding frames of yellow and black etch a complete narrative that is urgent and original; making it a remarkable achievement in storytelling.
Sponsored Award
Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Award for Best Debut Director: Sreemoyee Singh
Dadasaheb Phalkefor Chitranagari Award for Best Debut Director at MIFF has been awarded to. The award carries a trophy and prize money of Rs. 1 lakh.
Sreemoyee takes us on her unique journey to Iran inspired by her passion for feminist poetry and Iran’s rich film culture, thereby opening our eyes to the challenges faced by dissenting voices in the face of censorship. The jury was profoundly moved by this film’s emotional depth and social relevance especially because it’s a debut film.
IDPA Award for Best Student Film: Chanchisoa (Expectation)
IDPA Award for Best Student Film at MIFF 2024 has been awarded to ‘Chanchisoa (Expectation)’, a film directed by Elvachisa Ch Sangma and Dipankar Das. The award carries a trophy and prize money of Rs. 1 lakh.
This beautiful short fiction explores identity, love, and human connection between nature and a household in the matrilineal society of Garo Hills. The film’s lush cinematography, complex storytelling and actors performances seamlessly work hand in hand to convey in subtle ways the underlying strains at large in this family; making it a remarkable achievement as a student film.
FIPRESCI International Critic Jury Award
Sreemoyee Singh received the “FIPRESCI International Critic Jury Award” for her film ‘And, Towards Happy Alleys’ .
Special Award
Best short film on “India in Amrit Kaal” (upto 15 min.)” – Life in Loom
Best short film on “India in Amrit Kaal” (upto 15 min.)” goes to Life in Loom, directed by Edmond Ranson. The award carries trophy, certificate and prize money of Rs. 1 lakh.
Edmond takes us upclose to master weavers and the communities from seven different states of India. Over the centuries these artisans have acted as custodians and passed on the skill from one generation to the next. As India steps into Amrit Kal, this film brings into focus the socio-economic and climatic challenges faced by these communities. There is a need to provide support to these communities so that the future of the craft and these communities is secure.
Technical Award
Best Cinematographer: ‘Babin Dulal’ (Nepal) & Suraj Thakur (India)
‘Babin Dulal’ and Suraj Thakur jointly won the Best Cinematographer award for the film ‘Dhorpatan: No Winter Holidays’ and for the film ‘Entangled’ respectively.
“Dhorpatan” utilizes stunning cinematography to capture the austere beauty of the Nepalese Himalayas which frame this intimate story of lifelong rivals forced to coexist in an abandoned village during a bitter winter. Through meticulous framing and evocative composition, the camera work in this film juxtaposing the unforgiving backdrop of harsh climate and shifting landscapes with detailed portraits of the central characters to accentuate themes of aging, loneliness, and the resilience of womanhood.
In ‘Entangled’ the camera sets the scene for the passing of Anna. The shots are masterfully composed and the camera knows precisely when to travel and when to remain static, what to show and what to leave out. The images carry us along with Anna and his desperate family towards the final release. The film’s visual poetry and emotional depth are truly exceptional.
The award carries a trophy, certificate and cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs.
Best Editor: Vignesh Kumulai and Irene Dhar Mallik
Vignesh Kumulai and Irene Dhar Mallik won the Best Editor award jointly for the film ‘Karparaa’ and ‘From the Shadows’ respectively.
“Karparaa” employs a contemplative editing style which emphasizes the passage of time and space, masterfully weaving poetic visuals of the key characters with the quiet meditative rhythm of rural life. In particular the film allows for moments of stillness which often transform the mundane into the profound, a deliberate editing approach which invites viewers to emotionally engage with the characters and their environment.
‘From the Shadows’ throws light on how Girls go missing – many of them, day in day out – trafficked for money. This documentary explores what is going on, pointing us to activists and victims without exposing them to a voyeuristic eye. Artful editing lets us easily wander from one case to the next, from activist to artist, from one journey to another, finding the poignant highlights in the documentary footage to create a masterful dramaturgy.
The award carries a trophy, certificate and cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs.
Best Sound Designer: Niraj Gera & Abhijit Sarkar
Niraj Gera and Abhijit Sarkar jointly won the Best Soud Designer award for the film ‘The Golden Thread’ and ‘Dhara Ka Tem (Time for Milking)’ respectively.
The Golden Thread, pays tribute to how narrative can be driven by attention to a soundscape by a dedicated sound crew determined to overcome the most challenging of environments – an arcane factory filled with mechanical noise and clatter. The sound design impressively navigates the dynamic interplay of brute machinery and a human labor force, creating an astonishing rhythmic adventure, at times in synchrony with the cadence of workers and at times unexpectedly silent where cacophony is expected, culminating in a stunning symphonic narrative journey.
In ‘Dhara Ka Tem’, you can hear when it is time for milking! The sounds impinge on the daily routines of this rural family and give us the chance to travel to Punjab and take part in their lives – just by listening! This exceptional auditory backdrop complements the visuals, enhancing the film’s overall impact and depth. The award carries trophy, certificate and cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs.
A total of 25 films were selected for the International Competition section which includes separate categories for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation Films. Likewise, 77 films competed in the national competition category.
