Kirghiz film wins the “Best Asian Film” award at 9th Bangalore International Film Festival 2017 (2nd-9th February, 2017).

A report by Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI)

Films from Central Asia continue to make their presence felt in international film festivals all around the world. Kirghiz film Atanym Kereezi (“A father's will”) directed by Bakyt Mukul and Dastan Zhapar Uulu is the latest success story which is surely going to make central Asian region proud of its filmmakers. It charmed both local festival audiences as well as jury members at the 9^th Bangalore International Film Festival 2017 in order to be judged as the “Best Asian Film”. This film was the Kyrgyz entry for the best foreign language film at the 89^th Academy awards. A father’s will also bagged Golden Zenith prize for the best first fiction film at Montreal World Film Festival. Kirghiz actor Iman Mukul received the prize on behalf of his father who was busy participating in a different film festival.

By showcasing best films from regional industry (Kannada films), India  (Indian films) and Asia (Asian films), Bangalore International Film Festival has emerged as an important film festival in India. It is one of the few festivals in the world to constitute five independent juries which would watch twelve films to choose best films. Indian cinema section is the key segment of this festival as it enables viewers to decipher the vitality of serious cinema in India. Three young filmmakers won important honors in this category. Débutante director Ananya Kasaravalli won best film award for Harikatha Prasanga (Chronicles of Hari). As part of “A window on Asian cinema” segment, Ananya Kasaravalli’s film had its world première at 21^st Busan International Film Festival 2016. Chitra Bharati Indian cinema competition jury also gave two separate awards. The jury special award was presented to Pune based director Mangesh Joshi for his second film “Lathe Joshi”. The jury mention was accredited to Kerala based director Dr.Biju Kumar Damodaran for his seventh film “Kaadu Pookkunna Neram” (When the woods bloom). FIPRESCI (India) paid its homage to veteran Indian film archivist late Mr.P.K.Nair by establishing an award in his name to honor excellence in Indian cinema. It awarded best Indian film prize to Manipur based director Haobam Paban Kumar for Loktak Lairembee (Lady of the lake). This film is also representing India at the panorama section of Berlin International Film Festival 2017

Bangalore International Film Festival is considered to be a much sought after event in India’s “Silicon valley” Bangalore which is the capital city of Karnataka state. According to film industry professionals, roughly 150 films are made annually in Kannada language. It is for this very reason that this film festival has created a competition section for the films produced in Karnataka state in order to provide an international platform for Kannada films and filmmakers. Four significant awards were presented to films from Kannada cinema competition section. “Rama  Rama  Re” directed by D.Satya Prakash was awarded the best film prize. Director S.P.Raghu won 2^nd  best film award for directing Pallata (The Shift). Young director Hemant.M.Rao got 3^rd best film prize for critically as well as commercially successful film “Godhi Banna Sadharma Mykattu”  (Wheatish brown, average build). Finally, director B.Suresha won the prestigious international jury’s NETPAC award for “Uppina Kagada” (Sand Paper).

© Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI)

Jury members : 9^th Bangalore International Film Festival 2017.

Asian cinema competition jury

1. M.S.Sathyu. (Director, India)

2. Bolavaru Mohamed Kunhi. (Writer,India)

3. Sergei Anashkin (Film critic, Russia)

4. Dalmira Tilepbergenova (Writer, Kyrgyzstan)

5. Latika Padgaonkar (Film critic, India)

Indian cinema competition jury

1. K.C.N.Chandrasekhar (Producer, India)

2. Bijaya Jena (Director/Actress,India)

3. Arun Chadha (Documentary film maker, India)

4. Dan Wolman (Director, Israel)

5. Girish Rao Hatwar (Film critic, India)

Critics jury for Indian cinema

1. Jacek Fuksiewicz  (Film critic, Poland)

2. M.K.Raghavendra (Film critic, India)

3. Prem Chand (Film critic, India)

Kannada cinema competition (International jury)

1. Paul Spurrier (Director, Thailand)

2. Ranjani Ratnavibhushana (Film critic, Sri Lanka)

3. Lalit Rao (Film critic, India)

Kannada cinema competition jury

1. Swapan Mullick (Film critic, India)

2. Malti Sahai (Administrator, India)

3. Ratnottama Sengupta (Journalist, India)

4. G.N.Mohan (Writer, India)

5. S.Mahendar (Director, India)