Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

‘Kadaltheerathu’ adjudged best

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Kadaltheerathu’ directed by Sherry, based on a short story by O.V. Vijayan, has won the award for the best short fiction at the International Video Festival of Kerala (IVFK), organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which concluded here on Tuesday.

The award consists of a cash prize of Rs.50,000 and a citation. ‘Mukund and Riaz’ directed by Nina Sabnani and ‘Shadow’ directed by Varun Jyoti Deori shared the award for the best animation film.

The prize money will he shared by the directors. ‘Morality TV and the loving Jehad’ directed by Paromita Vohra was selected as the best short documentary. The director gets a cash award of Rs.50,000 and a citation.

The award for best long documentary went to Vinod Raja for his ‘The Mahua Memoirs.’ He wins a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and a citation.

Addressing the valedictory function of the event, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said video films had emerged as a viable alternative to commercial cinema in raising social issues and creating public awareness.

Video filmmakers were not under commercial compulsions like makers of star-studded films made to be shown in theatres. They were free to raise social issues, he said. In response to a suggestion by jury chairman Sashi Kumar, Mr. Achuthanandan consented to increase the prize money for the award-winners from the coming year.

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom lauded the academy for conducting the festival which reflected the hopes, sorrows and aspirations of people in different parts of the world.

Mr. Sashi Kumar, who presented the report of the jury, said the festival venue should be made livelier by holding workshops and seminars. Such sessions would initiate discourses on the problems in filmmaking, censorship and taking up of sensitive issues.

The video package showcased in the festival should be shown in other parts of the State and the country too, he said.

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