Thiruvnanthapuram: Spanish movie 'Refugiado', directed by Diego Lerman, won The Golden Crow Pheasant Award (Suvarna Chakoram) for the Best Feature Film at the 19th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The prize money of Rs 15 lakh will be shared by the director and producer of the movie.
'Refugiado' was produced by Lerman and Nicolas Avruj. The organisers announced that honours will be sent to the makers of the movie as they were not present at the event.
The awards were announced by jury chairman Xie Fei at the closing ceremony here on Friday.
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award (Rajata Chakoram) for Best Director, consisting of Rs 4 lakh, went to Japanese director Hiroshi Toda for his film 'Summer, Kyoto'.
Rajata Chakoram for the Best Debut Director (Rs 3 lakh) was won by Iranian film-maker Hussein Shahabi for his movie 'The Bright Day'. While the Audience Prize, again a Rajata Chakoram, was won by Sajin Baabu for his Malayalam film 'Unto the Dusk' ('Asthamayam Vare'). The FIPRESCI award for Best Film was given to 'They are the Dogs', directed by Hisham Lasri.
FIPRESCI award for Best Malayalam Film was given to 'Oraalppokkam' directed by Sanalkumar Sasidharan.
The NETPAC award for the Best Asian Film in the competition was awarded to Toda's 'Summer, Kyoto'. Abbas Rafei's Iranian movie 'Oblivion Season' won jury's special mention in this category. The NETPAC award for the Best Malayalam Film was won by 'Oraalpokkam'.
Presenting the awards, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam said that the state has been blessed with artistic talents. Naming film-makers Aravindan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Bharathan in his speech, the Governor said that the Kerala has given birth to outstanding film-makers and he hoped that the legacy will continue.
“Motion pictures can't categorised out as old and new, there are only good and bad. That is why the films of Charlie Chaplin, Akira Kurosowa and Satyajith Ray still make us go in awe,” added the Governor. He congratulated the cast and crew who worked hard for the winning movies.
The citation for excellence, introduced for the first time in the 19th IFFK as part of the Malayalam Film Market, was given to Sajin's 'Unto the Dusk', Sudevan's 'CR No. 89', K.R. Manoj's 'Kanyaka Talkies' and Sidhartha Siva's 'Zahir'. The Kerala Chalachitra Academy will provide an aid of Rs 3 lakh for the promotion of these four films.