Panaji: A Portuguese film `Beatriz`s War`, set in East Timor, won the prestigious Golden Peacock award at the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which came to a close Saturday.
Directed by Luigi Acquisto and Bety Reis, the film was unanimously chosen by the jury for the award, which comes with a Golden Peacock statuette, a certificate and Rs.40 lakh.
The film deals with intimate relationships between men and women against the continuous violence in East Timor.
Bengali film `Meghe Dhaka Tara`, directed by Kamaleswar Mukherjee won the Silver Peacock award. The director of the film, which is based on the life and works of legendary Bengali film director Ritwik Ghatak netted a prize of Rs.15 lakh.
The best director award was given to Kaushik Ganguly for his film `Apur Panchali`, a smart tribute to the Oscar award-winning Indian director Satyajit Ray.
Ganguly received Rs.15 lakh and a Silver Peacock. Alon Moni Aboutboul won the Best Actor (male) award for her performance in the film `A Place in Heaven`, where his performance as a cruel and sensitive character was applauded. He received Rs.10 lakh, a certificate and a Silver Peacock statuette.
The Best Actor (female) award was won by Magdalena Boczarska for her intense, strong portrayal of a victim who subtly turns an oppressor. She received Rs.10 lakh, a certificate and a Silver Peacock. The Special Jury Award was granted to Onur Unlu, director of the film `Thou Gilds`t The Even`. He received a Silver Peacock, a certificate and Rs.15 lakh.
