Digital Goa, Nov 28 – The 56th IFFI concluded in a star-studded function at Bambolim Stadium, with several renowned Indian and global film personalities in attendance, celebrating global and Indian cinema.
The Golden Peacock for Best Feature Film was awarded to Skin of Youth, a Vietnamese film directed by Ash Mayfair, portraying the intense romance between a transgender sex worker and an underground fighter in 1990s Saigon.
Silver Peacock – Best Director went to Santosh Davakhar for his film Gondhal, while the Special Jury Award was presented to Akinola Davies Jr. for My Father’s Shadow.
In acting honours, Jara Sofija Ostan won the Silver Peacock – Best Actor (Female) for Little Trouble Girls (Kaj ti je deklica), and Ubeimar Rios received the Silver Peacock – Best Actor (Male) for A Poet (Un Poeta), directed by Simón Mesa Sot.
The Best Debut Feature Film of a Director award was jointly bagged by My Daughter’s Hair (Raha) by Hesam Farahmand and Fränk (Франк) by Tõnis Pill, while the Best Debut Director of an Indian Feature Film went to Karan Singh Tyagi for Kesari Chapter 2.
The ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal was awarded to Safe House directed by Eirik Svensson, and Bandish Bandits Season 2 won the Best Web Series (OTT) award.
The closing ceremony highlighted inclusion, with sign language interpreters providing real-time interpretation and the opening Ganesh Vandana dance featuring performers with disabilities, including dancers on wheelchairs.
