IFFK 2011 concludes - The Colours of the Mountain wins Rajatha Chakoram

The curtain of 16th International Film Festival of Kerala has been lowered. The IFFK concluded on friday in all its splendour. The Golden Crow Pheasant Award or Suvarna Chakoram and a cash prize of Rs. 1,000,000 for the best feature film was won by Colombian film 'The Colours of the Mountain' directed by Carlos César Arbeláez. The prize money will be shared equally by the director and the producer of the film. The Silver Crow Pheasant (Rajatha Chakoram) Award and cash prize of 4,00,000 for the second best film was won by the Mexican film ‘A Stone Thrown Away', directed by Sebastian Hiriart. Iranian director Hamid Reza Aligholian won the Rajatha Chakoram for the Best Director for his film 'Flemingo no.13'. He will also get a cash prize of Rs. 3,00,000.

The NETPAC award for the best Asian film in the festival went to the Bengali film ‘At the End of It All' directed by Aditi Roy. Turkish film 'Future Lasts Forever' directed by Ozcan Alper received the FIPRESCI award for the best film in competition section. The Rajatha Chakoram for the best film, chosen by the audience went to ‘The Painting Lesson' by Pablo Perelman. The FIPRESCI and NETPAC awards for the best Malayalam film were won by Salim Ahmed's 'Adaminte Makan Abu'. The Hassankutty Award instituted by Mira Nair for the best Indian Debut Film was also won by Adaminte Makan Abu.

Bollywood director Subhash Ghai was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony. He said that IFFK is one of the most reputed film festivals in the country. The awards were distributed by the Minister for Film and Culture KB Ganesh Kumar. Some of his remarks between the speech recieved booes from the audience. The function was presided over by the Minister for Panchayat MK Muneer. The Minister for Labour Shibu Baby John, Jury Chairman Bruce Beresford, jury members Laurence Gavron and Rahul Bose, Kerala State Chalachithra Academy chairman Priyadarshan, vice chairman Gandhimathi Balan, secretary K.G. Santhosh and Festival deputy director Bina Paul were also present at the ceremony that took place at Nishaganthi auditorium.

In the Media awards category, PS Jayan of Mathrubhoomi and R Rins of Metro Vartha won the award for best print media reporting. Shibu PS of The New Indian Express got special mention. N Sreeja of Indiavision and Augustine Sebastian of
Reporter shared the award for the best television reporting. The award for the best online reporting, introduced this year, was won by Yentha.Com and Metromatinee.Com.

The IFFK, commenced on 9th December, screened more than 160 films from all over the globe. This edition was perhaps the most controversial festival also.