Vietnamese film about romance of transgender protagonist wins top award at IFFI 

A Vietnamese film depicting the story of romance between a transgender protagonist and a man has won the top award 'Golden Peacock' for the best feature film at the 56th International Film Festival of India on Friday night (28 November).

Director of the film "Skin of Youth" Ashleigh Mayfair and producer Trần Thị Bích Ngọc, Ash Mayfair, Fran Borgia will share the Golden Peacock Trophy and a cash prize of Rs. four million for presenting a "captivating story from the very first frame, with inspired cinematography and bold production design in a work that will linger in our minds for a long time to come."

Indian director Santosh Davakhar has been conferred the Silver Peacock for best director for his Marathi language film "Gondhal" which includes a cash prize of Rs15 million for what the jury said a "captivating narrative that keeps us on edge, surprising us beyond our wildest imagination. Gondhal is like a Shakespearean fable set in the real world."

The award for the best debut feature film of a director was shared by two first-time filmmakers Hesam Farahmand for Iranian film 'My Daughter's Hair' and Tõnis Pill for Estonian film 'Frank'. The winners received the Silver Peacock Trophy and a cash prize of Rs one million.

Slovenian actress Sofija Ostan bagged the Silver Peacock for best actor (female) for her performance in Slovenian movie "Little Trouble Girls" portraying the turmoil of a teenage girl's romantic and sexual escapades in the strictly religious environment of a Catholic school.

The award fetched Ostan a cash prize of Rs one million for a performance the jury headed by Bollywood director Rakesh Omprakash Mehra said "conveyed emotion through the smallest, most delicate shifts and a face that read like a book."

Colombian actor Ubeimar Rios has been awarded the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male) for his role in "A Poet" in a film which explores the age-old clash between art and survival.

Norwegian film "Safe House", directed by Eirik Svensson, won the ICFT-UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Medal for its "outstanding contribution" to cinema that promotes peace, non-violence, and intercultural dialogue.

Set over 15 intense hours inside a 'Doctors Without Borders' hospital in Bangui during the 2013 civil war in the Central African Republic, "Safe House" is inspired by true events exploring the ethics of care, courage and responsibility as a team of aid workers grapples with impossible choices in a civil war zone.

The awards were presented by Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant and India's Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan at a glittering closing ceremony in Goa.

This year's IFFI saw 15 feature films competing for the coveted Golden Peacock award.