PANAJI
The 30-minute Konkani short film Ancessao, directed by Manguirish Jagdish Bandodkar, has won the Best International Short Film award at the 14th International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) held in Toronto, North America. Goan actor Prashanti Talpankar was also honoured with the Best Actor (International) award for her moving performance in the film.
Ancessao was the only Goan and Konkani entry officially selected for IFFSA Toronto 2025, the largest South Asian film festival in North America. It was screened on October 14 at Cineplex Cinemas Courtney Park, Mississauga, drawing acclaim for its intimate storytelling and authentic Goan setting.
The film explores the inner world of an elderly Goan woman living alone in her village home. Isolated and longing for connection, she turns to gossip to fill the void, finding both amusement and moments of guilt in meddling with others’ affairs. Blending humour with quiet melancholy, Ancessao paints a vivid portrait of solitude and small-town life, capturing the rhythms of everyday existence and the quiet longings that lie beneath idle chatter. Critics have praised the film for its tonal balance, rich character work, and deeply human gaze.
Written in 2022, filmed across Chandor, Curtorim, and Cuncolim in South Goa during 2024, and completed in 2025, Ancessao showcases the beauty and solitude of Goan villages through a deeply human story anchored by Talpankar’s standout performance.
With a vibrant career spanning multiple languages and genres, Talpankar has established herself as a linchpin of Goan cinema and theatre. Her body of work includes internationally recognised Konkani films such as Poltodcho Munis, and national award-winning projects including the Hindi film Kabhi Paas Kabhi Fail and Konkani films Alisha, Amori, and Baga Beach.
Her accolades also include Best Supporting Actor for her role in Juze at the Goa Film Festival, alongside various state-level honours, underscoring her significant contributions to the arts.
