Lithuanian filmmaker Saulė Bliuvaitė’s “Poisonous” took dwelling the very best movie award on the fifty fifth Worldwide Movie Competition of India (IFFI) in Goa. The jury, headed by Indian director Ashutosh Gowariker, acknowledged the movie for its portrayal of adolescence and financial hardship.

Beforehand, at Locarno, “Poisonous” gained not solely the Golden Leopard for Finest Movie within the fest’s premier Worldwide Competitors — from a jury chaired by Austrian auteur Jessica Hausner — but additionally, in an uncommon double, the highest prize within the individually juried First Function Competitors. 

Selection‘s optimistic evaluation of “Poisonous” described the movie as “sobering however not with out glimmers of tenderness and humor as feminine friendship takes root in a hopeless place,” including that its “alternation between chilly composure and kinetic motion roughly corresponds with [the protagonist’s] wavering sense of self.”

Romanian director Bogdan Muresanu nabbed the very best director prize for “The New Yr That By no means Got here,” a multi-narrative function set throughout a revolution. The jury cited his ability in crafting a tragicomedy in opposition to the backdrop of social upheaval.

The most effective actor award went to Clément Faveau for the French movie “Holy Cow,” by Louise Courvoisier, with a particular point out for Adam Bessa’s efficiency within the Tunisian-French-Canadian co-production “Who Do I Belong To?” In a notable joint win, “Poisonous” stars Vesta Matulytė and Ieva Rupeikaitė shared the very best actress prize for his or her debut roles.

“Holy Cow” additionally acquired the Particular Jury Award, whereas Sarah Friedland’s “Acquainted Contact” was honored as finest debut function. The ICFT Worldwide Movie Prize with UNESCO Gandhi Medal was introduced to Levan Akin’s “Crossing,” which follows an aged Georgian girl’s journey to Istanbul looking for her lacking niece.

The worldwide jury included filmmaker Anthony Chen, producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Fran Borgia, and editor Jill Bilcock alongside chair Gowariker.

Navjyot Bandiwadekar gained the Finest Debut Director of an Indian Function Movie Award for his Marathi-language movie “Gharat Ganpati.”

Acclaimed Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce acquired the IFFI Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.

SonyLIV‘s “Lampan,” Nipun Dharmadhikari’s rural coming-of-age narrative, gained IFFI’s Finest Net Collection award.

The pageant, organized by India’s Ministry of Info and Broadcasting and the Nationwide Movie Improvement Company of India (NFDC), concluded its 2024 version on Nov. 28. Concurrent challenge market Movie Bazaar ran Nov. 20-24.