IFFK concludes in Thiruvanathapuram with E.Ma.Yau Malayalam film director Lijo Jose Pellissery adjudged as Best Director

At the 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) being held in Thiruvananthapuram, Malayalam film director, Lijo Jose Pellissery has been adjudged the Best Director, in addition to his movie, Ee.Ma.Yau winning him the prestigious Rajata Chakoram (Silver Crow Phesant) Award and a cash prize of Rs.4 lakh. It may be recalled that the film had won laurels at the recent IIFI Goa 2018 as well, where Chemban Vinod bagged the Best Actor (Male) Award for portraying a powerful character in E.Ma.Yau of Eshi, directed by Jose Pellissery.

The story revolves around E.Ma.Yau of Eshi, a son who tries to arrange a worthy funeral for his father and in his attempt to fulfil his desire, a slew of unwarranted and unfortunate situations he encounters from various quarters is the jist of the story. In the IFFI Goa, Lijo Jose Pellissery won the Best Director award. Set in the milieu of Chellanam, a coastal village in Kerala, movie shows pathetic paradox of a son who runs from pillar to post give a decent funeral for his father. The Best Director got Silver Peacock Award and a cash prize of Rs.1.5 million or Rs.15 lakh. It may be recalled that Lijo Pellissery had also been adjudged as the Best Director at the 48th Kerala State Film Awards for Ee.Ma.Yau. What is more, E.Ma.Yau also bagged the prestigious Rajata Chakoram for audience poll and in the competition category of the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film. While receiving the award, Lijo Jose Pallissery said that he felt very honoured to receive the award from his homestate of Kerala, especially in the aftermath of overcoming the worst flood ever seen.

Another Malayalam movie, Sudani from Nigeria, directed by Zakariya had won the coveted FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film. The IFFK has been held in the capital city of Kerala from December 7-13.

The newly constituted FFSI KR Mohanan Award for Best Director from India, had chosen Bengali film Director, Amitabha Chatterjee, who directed Manohar and I (Ami O Manohar), while Vinu Kolichal, Director of Malayalam movie, Bilathikuzhal bagged a special jury mention in this category.

Suvarna Chakoram

In the Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Phesant) Award category, Rouhollah Hejazi, the Iranian film director of The Dark room (Otagh-e-Tarik) bagged the award. A powerful director, Hejazi’s Iranian film shows the exploration of relationships in a family. Along with the award, the director was also conferred with a cash prize of Rs.15 lakh, that is equally shared between the director and producer. Director Majid Majidi and VS Sunil Kumar, the State Agriculture Minsiter, who jointly gave away the awards at the closing event at Nishagandhi Open Air Auditorium. Also, as a mark of respect to the departed director of the Malayalam movie, Perumthachan, Ajayan, IFFK observed a minute of silence.

At the IFFK, 163 movies from 72 nations were screened. In addition to that Open Forum and In Conversation offered platforms for the participating delegates to discuss about the growth of the cinema industry across the globe. The five-member Internaitonal Jury, which selected the movies for the awards, was headed by the Iranian film director, Majid Majidi.

List of winners

Winners’ list • Suvarana Chakoram for the best film goes to The Dark Room directed by Rouhollah Hej…