Hindi
Colombian film bags top award at 42nd IFFI
PANAJI: The Colombian film ‘Porfirio‘ by Alejandro Landes took away the Golden Peacock for best film, while Iranian director Asghar Farhadi got the Silver Peacock for best director for the film ‘Nader and Simin, a Separation‘.
While Alejandro and his producer Francisco Allure received Rs 4 million each, Asghar got Rs 1.5 million.
The best actor award went to Sasson Gabay for the Israeli film ‘Restoration‘ by Joseph Madmony while the best female actor award went to Nadezda Markina for the Russian film ‘Elena‘ directed by Andrei Zvyagintev. Both received the Silver Peacock and a cash component of One million each.
The Indian (Malayalam) film ‘Abu. Son of Adam‘ (Adaminte Makan Abu) by Salim Ahamed received the Special jury award comprising cash component of Rs 1.5 million apart from a Silver Peacock.
The five-member International Jury was headed by famed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan judging 14 films. Seven outstanding films which could not make it to the competition are being shown in a section known as ‘A Cut Above‘.
Earlier, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting CM Jatua said IFFI provides a platform for cinemas of the world to promote excellence and promote friendships amongst people.
Chief Guest and actor Surya said movies are all about desires that drive the people to do better. He said in south India, where he came from, cinema was a culture and not just entertainment. But it was unfortunate that regional language cinema was not getting the kind of attention that Hindi cinema got, though “we build a lot of bridges”. He said filmmakers in the south shared creative content.
He made a special appeal that awarded films should be shown in all parts of the country with English subtitles, to help the untapped talent.
Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the festivals had led to more films being shot in Goa – 67 in recent months – and the motto of the festival had been to see satisfaction on the faces of the delegates. He noted that the Festival coincided with the Golden Jubilee of ‘Operation Vijay‘ which resulted in the liberation of Goa.
Festival Director Shankar Mohan proposed the vote of thanks at the finale which was attended among others by Goa Speaker Pratap Singh Rane, Goa Information Secretary Rajiv Verma, Panaji Mayor Yatin Parikh, I&B Ministry Joint Secretary (Films) DP Reddy, Goa Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava, actors Kangana Ranaut and Bhumika, filmmaker Rajendra Ahire, cameraman Madhu Ambat, and producer Sohail Khan. The programme was presented by actors Samir Soni and Mandira Bedi.
The festival closed with the French film ‘The Lady‘ by Luc Besson on the life of Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.
The programme commenced a minute‘s silence to pay homage to Brazilian filmmaker Oscar Marron Filho who had died of a heart attack during the festival.
The colourful function included a dance ensemble representing dances from different parts of the country performed by Terence Lewis and his troupe with actress Isha Koppiker as the guest dancer.
A total of 167 films from 65 countries were screened at the Festival which commenced on 23 November. Renowned French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier received the Lifetime Achievement award from Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
This award, which had been started around a decade earlier and later abandoned, has been revived and will include a cash award of Rs one million.
The Festival was inaugurated by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and opened with the Portuguese film ‘The Consul of Bordeaux‘ by Francisco Manso and Joao Correa.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
