Thiruvananthapuram: Announcing IFFK Suwarna Chakoram Award for the Best Film, IFFK Artistic Director Bina Paul said, "Ladies and gentlemen who fought so hard, we will see 'Clash' tonight again." Its screening had brought 'elitist versus mass debate' alive, as delegates with reservation had found most of the hall already occupied. After two screenings, the organisers were forced to screen it two more times.
The number of delegates far outnumbered the seats available at the theatres. Why Festival Director Kamal strongly advocated for the setting up of a new festival complex. "Hope the Chief Minister and Culture Minister will quickly work towards keeping their word (of establishing an IFFK complex)," he said. Even if the Egyptian film had not won Suwarna Chakoram and Audience Award, it would still remain the most vivid memory of IFFK 2016.
IFFK Jury chair Michel Khleifi with jury members Seema Biswas and Baran Kosari clicks a selfie against the packed Nisagandhi auditorium during the concluding ceremomy of the 21st IFFK in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. (Photo: A.V.MUZAFAR)
Its citation read, "The Jury unanimously underlines and applauds the excellent cinematographic work that so aptly explains the historical shock of his country and sketches a living portrait of all the socio-political currents represented by real, authentic and truly human characters." On behalf of its Director Mohamed Diab, FIPRESCI Jury Member Salome Kikaleishvili received the award. 'Manhole' won IFFK Rajata Chakoram (Best Debut Director) award and FIPRESCI Best Malayalam Film award. Its director Vidhu Vincent said, "This award is dedicated to thousands of manhole workers. This is their life, their life story."
Clair Obscur director Yesim Ustaoglu receives Special Jury Mention Award on behalf of actor EcemUzun. (Photo: DC)
The film was chosen as the director "expressed, an everyday unnoticed issue in a simple and important, yet a powerful visual image narrative." Rajata Chakoram for the Best Director was presented to YesimUstaoglu for 'Clair Obscur'. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan talked about the "unifying nature of cinema." He said that cinema inspired "cultural globalisation, which is different from the globalisation put forward by capitalism."
Die Beautiful producer receives Special Jury Mention Award for its actor Paolo Ballesteros. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan looks on (Photo: DC)
Saying how a person in Kerala would get to see the realities of Peru and Ghana, Pinarayi said that "this was not a globalisation of exclusion, but that of inclusion." NETPAC Best Asian Film is 'Cold of Kalandar', and NETPAC Best Malayalam Film is 'Kamma-tipaadam'. 'Warehoused' by Jack Zagha won the FIPRESCI Best International Film. Actors Paolo Ballestros and EcemUzun for 'Die Beautiful' and 'Clair Obscur' received Special Jury Mention.
Manhole director Vidhu Vincent receives IFFK Rajata Chakoram (Best Debut Director). Tourism Minister Kadakampalli Surendran and Chalachitra Academy Secretary Mahesh Panju look on. (Photo: DC)
A memorable one as usual
Looking back, the 21st IFFK did leave the discerning viewer with many lasting images with the transgender friendly policies, rows over 'VIP reservations', protests connected with 'National Anthem' being a few of them. Now it's time for autopsies and check whether the festival managed to serve its purpose, what all should change and what all should remain same.
Selection of Movies
IFFK should be able to showcase the films that did well in other festivals, according to filmmaker Shaji N Karun. The former IFFK Executive Chairman had made a checklist of must-watches, based on films screened at other festivals. Only half of it was screened at IFFK, he says. "This festival happens in December. The festival should be a crystallisation of what happened through the year. If you ask me whether it has happened, I would say, some more clarity needs to be achieved," he says.
Marketing
This year IFFK did not have marketing section. Instead, IFFK organised sessions where distributors could interact with filmmakers, according to Festival Director and Academy chairman Kamal. "After the festival, we will be launching a marketing cell, which offers filmmakers a permanent forum to get the films marketed. They will be able to take it to other festivals which seems to be a more practical way for marketing films," said Kamal.
Elitist or Mass
The screening of 'Clash' was cancelled as delegates found most of the seats already occupied. While organisers accepted that their protest was justified, noted filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan said that anyone who obstructed IFFK screenings should be blacklisted. "There also seems to be a subculture of youth, who came not to see, but to be seen," said Latha Kurian, art curator and a IFFK regular.
Protests
The most memoratbel was the silent protest with badges which said ‘love cannot be forced, dear SC’ following the National Anthem controversy. "This does not happen anywhere else" says Kamal.
