Late actor Om Puri was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the third India International Film Festival of Boston (IIFFB 2020).
The Best Feature Film Award went to the Malayalam film Kaanthi, which narrates the story of a blind tribal girl and her mother’s attempts to get treatment for the girl. The film showcased the love between the mother and daughter as well as bureaucratic woes.
The Best Actor (male) in a feature film award went to Victor Bannerjee for his portrayal of a priest in Josef: Born In Grace. The Best Actor (female) award was given to Shylaja Ambu who played the part of the tribal mother in Kaanthi.
The Best Short Film award went to the Iranian film Better Than Neil Armstrong, while Baitullah was adjudged Best Film With A Social Cause.
The three-day event included personalities like Luke Mendes, Brahmanand Singh, Sushant Singh, Danish Renzu, Tanuja Chandra, Saleel Shriniwas Kulkarni, Mikhil Musale and Swanand Kirkire. Several topics like drug use, the mafia, Bollywood as judged by the media, and the future of Indian cinema in the Covid era, were discussed.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was accorded to the late Om Puri, and received by his wife Nandita Puri. Another highlight of the festival was a conversation with chef Vikas Khanna, recipient of the Pride of India Award.
The film festival, based in Boston, USA, was held virtually this year, from October 16 to 18.
“I was very nervous at the start but then eventually we felt comfortable. It was very different and sometimes difficult, doing a virtual film festival, but it was a new way to learn,” said IIFFB founder and festival director Razia Mashkoor. (IANS)
