‘My Daughter’s Hair’ and ‘Fränk’ share Silver Peacock
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presents the Golden Peacock award to director Ash Mayfair, while dignitaries on stage look on.
PANAJI
The Vietnamese film “Skin of Youth” won the ‘Golden Peacock’ for Best Feature Film at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), during a glittering closing ceremony at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Bambolim, on Friday. The award was presented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr L Murugan.
‘Skin of Youth’, directed by Ash Mayfair, received a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs 40,00,000. Set in 1990s Saigon, the film explores the intense romance between San, a transgender sex worker, and Nam, an underground cage fighter, as they confront societal prejudices, violent underworlds, and personal sacrifices. The jury praised the film for its emotional depth and compelling storytelling.
Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director for his Marathi film ‘Gondhal’, a gripping tale set against the midnight carnival of ritualistic Gondhal dance in rural Maharashtra. Hesam Farahmand’s My Daughter’s Hair (Raha) and Tõnis Pill’s ‘Fränk’ jointly received the Silver Peacock Award for Best Debut Feature Film of a Director.
Jara Sofija Ostan won the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female) for her performance in the Slovenian film ‘Little Trouble Girls’ (Kaj ti je deklica), while Ubeimar Rios received the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male) for his role in the Colombian film ‘A Poet’ (Un Poeta). The Special Jury Award went to Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr for ‘My Father’s Shadow’, a semi-autobiographical story exploring family bonds during the 1993 presidential election in Lagos.
In a landmark moment celebrating emerging talent, Karan Singh Tyagi was honoured with the Best Debut Director of Indian Feature Film Award for Kesari Chapter 2. The historical courtroom drama recounts the extraordinary story of Sankaran Nair, a barrister from Kerala who exposed General Dyer’s culpability in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The jury lauded the film’s cinematic values, historical significance, and compelling depiction of India’s freedom struggle. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh along with a certificate.
The Norwegian film ‘Safe House’, directed by Eirik Svensson, received the ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal for promoting peace, non-violence, and intercultural dialogue. The award was received by Manouj Kadaamh, honorary representative of ICFT–UNESCO Paris, on behalf of Svensson.
The ceremony also celebrated cinema icon Rajinikanth, who was felicitated for completing 50 years in the film industry. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented the superstar with a shawl and memento, while Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan, Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Sanjay Jaju, and actor Ranveer Singh were present.
Receiving the honour, Rajinikanth expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Even if there are 100 births, I would like to be born as Rajinikanth.” Reflecting on his cinematic journey, he added that his fifty years in cinema feel like just ten or fifteen because he loves every moment of acting. He credited his success to the support of his fans, saying, “It’s not the awards or the films, but the love of the audience that keeps me going. Every role is a chance to tell a story that matters.”
This year’s IFFI showcased a rich array of films highlighting regional diversity, innovative storytelling, and global perspectives. From debut directors to international auteurs, and from historical dramas to socially relevant narratives, the festival reaffirmed its role as a platform for voices shaping the future of cinema.
