23rd KIFF concludes

Kolkata: Lauding the steps taken by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in ensuring that the film festival gets a place among other such festivals in the world, the state Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said: "If there were any award for holding a festival of this magnitude so smoothly it should have been conferred upon the Chief Minister."

Mukherjee was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) in which the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Awards have been given on Friday evening at Nazrul Mancha.

Mukherjee said: "This is a day of pride as KIFF in no more limited to Kolkata and it has now become one of the best film festivals across the globe. I would like to extend all my gratitude to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for taking initiative in taking KIFF to a new height."

The programme was also attended by veteran actors Biswajit Chatterjee and Moushumi Chatterjee. Firhad Hakim, the state Urban development minister, Aroop Biswas, the state Youth Services and Sports minister, and Indranil Sen, Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs department also handed over awards to winners of different competitions held during the film festival that had started on November 10.

Stating that it feels glad to be present in a programme in which film makers from all across the world are awarded, Chatterjee, the veteran actor, said: "I am really moved that Rs 51 lakh is given as the prize money to the maker of the best film and it will encourage more film makers."

Moushumi too lauded the Mamata Banerjee-government for organising such a festival that revolves round films and stated that its magnitude is going up every year.

Hakim said: "No good thing can come to an end. This was a huge fanfare this time and next year the 24th KIFF will be organised with more grandeur." From the dais of the closing ceremony of this year's film festival, he welcomed everyone to make the film festival next year equally successful by their participation.

The state Youth Services and Sports minister, Biswas said: "I would only like to congratulate the Chief Minister for organising a film festival of this magnitude and for taking it to the reach of common people instead of keeping it restricted only within Nandan."

Sen too expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for ensuring that the KIFF gets popular all across the world and he stated that he looks forward to the 24th KIFF that will be of bigger magnitude.

Kolkata: The 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) concluded amidst mesmerising music and fireworks on Friday evening at Nazrul Mancha with the 94-minute film from France Los Perros winning the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for the best film.

Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee and Moushumi Chatterjee handed over the award of the best film in innovation in moving images to director of Los Perros, Marcela Said. Subrata Mukherjee, the state Panchayat minister, handed over a cheque worth Rs 51 lakh for the maker of the best film.

The award was distributed amidst fireworks that created a different atmosphere all together in the closing ceremony of the 23rd KIFF.

The closing ceremony began with a mesmerising fusion music presented by Bikram Ghosh and his troupe. Around a one hour-long musical extravaganza ahead of the award distribution ceremony took the film festival to a new height.

The second most important award that was of the best director was won by Asa Helga Hjorleifsottir for the film from Iceland Swan. He received the award and a cheque worth Rs 21 lakh.

Kupal, a film from Iran, and Birds Are Singing in Kigali have been awarded with the Jury Special Mention Award on Innovation in Moving Images.

Firhad Hakim, the state Urban Development minister, handed over the Hiralal Sen Memorial Award for best director to Dr Bijukumar Damodaran for his film Sound of Silence. After receiving the award, Damodaran said: "This is the sixth time I participated in the KIFF and this is the first time I am receiving the award. It is a prestigious one and it will inspire me to go ahead in life".

Goodbye Katmandu, a 133-minute film, received the Netpac Award. The award was handed over to the film's director Nabin Subba by Indranil Sen, the Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs department.

Chahat Ke Gubbare of Amritangshu and Mrityubhoj- The Death feast of Akanksha Sood Singh have been awarded with the award for best short film and best documentary film respectively. Film makers of each of the films have received Rs one lakh.

It may be mentioned that the KIFF was not only about grandeur and magnificence. It also had a humane side too as collections from complementary contributions during the film festival from November 10 to 17 has been donated to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Film Workers' Association Welfare Fund.