The 28th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) concluded on a grand note in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, December 15, with Prakash Raj as the chief guest of the closing ceremony. The event concluded with a grand valedictory function held at Nishagandhi Auditorium. The much-anticipated Suvarna Chakoram for Best Film was awarded to Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist, which delves into ecological concerns in the fast-changing world.
The prestigious award was received by the film’s cinematographer, Yoshio Kitagawa. The accolade came with a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh, a memento, and a certificate. Notably, the Malayalam film Thadavu and its director, Fazil Razak, emerged as double winners, with Razak honoured with the Rajata Chakoram for Best Debut Director. Additionally, Thadavu secured the coveted Audience Poll Award.
The Rajata Chakoram Best Director award was shared with Shokir Kholikov for his Uzbek film titled Sunday, which explores generational conflict in a village. Sunday also clinched the Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema (Netpac) award for the best Asian film. Anand Ekarashi’s directorial Attam secured the Netpac award for the best Malayalam film.
In other notable recognitions, the Mexican film All The Silence, directed by Diego Del Rio, received the special jury award for its outstanding sound design. Renowned Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi, celebrated for his impactful films such as A Woman’s Decision, Power Of Evil, Illumination, and Persona Non-Grata, among others, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Adoor Gopalakrishnan presented the accolade to Zanussi in acknowledgement of his extensive contributions to cinema.
The festival, which commenced on December 8 with the Sudanese film Goodbye Julia, showcased a diverse array of cinematic works. Anurag Kashyap also presented his acclaimed film, Kennedy, during the festival. The event welcomed distinguished guests, including Cuban Ambassador Alejandro Simancas Marin and filmmakers Jorge Luis Sanchez and Alejandro Gil, along with producer Rosa Maria Valdez, who represented the International Jury and were honoured alongside Cuban delegates.
The IFFK 28th edition celebrated global cinema and recognised outstanding contributions, marking yet another successful and enriching cinematic gathering.
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