Cuban Film 'To the West in Zapata' Reigns Supreme at 31st KIFF
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Kolkata's 31st International Film Festival (KIFF) has come to a close with a slew of awards recognizing excellence in global cinema. The Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film in International Competition went to Cuban film 'To the West in Zapata', directed by David Bim. The film also received the FIPRESCI award, given by the International Federation of Film Critics. 'Riverstone', a Sri Lankan movie directed by Lalith Rathnayake, was awarded the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Director, while Croatian film 'Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day' by Ivona Juka received the Special Jury Award for Best Director. In a special ceremony, renowned Indian director Goutam Ghosh was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, marking the 100th anniversary of FIPRESCI. The Golden Royal Bengal Award for Best Indian documentary went to 'Bijoyee Japoner Patkatha' by Joydeep Banerjee. Bengali film 'Porshi' by Chandrasish Roy was awarded the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger award for Best film in the Bengali panorama. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who made a surprise visit to the closing ceremony, emphasized the need for filmmakers and producers to invest in West Bengal, hailing Kolkata as the cultural capital of the country. She praised the state's talent and potential, saying, 'If there's more investment in Bengal, our films will reach greater heights.' The KIFF closing ceremony took place at the Rabindra Sadan cultural complex, celebrating the people's spirit through cinema.
