Context

• The 54th International Film Festival of India came to a colourful end on 28 November.
• This 9-day Mahakumbh of films started with the British film 'Catching Dust'.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that the 'International Section' of the 54th IFFI had 198 films, which is 18 more than the 53rd IFFI.
• There were 13 world premieres, 18 international premieres, 62 Asia premieres and 89 India premieres.
• This year IFFI received a record number of 2926 entries from 105 countries, which is 3 times more international entries than last year.
• The 'Indian Panorama' section featured 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films from India.
• The opening film in the feature section was the Malayalam film "Attam", and the opening film in the non-feature section was "Andro Dreams" from Manipur.
• Apart from this, the Best Web Series (OTT) Award was started under IFFI this year.

 Various Awards given by IFFI

• Persian film Endless Borders, directed by Abbas Amini, received the Golden Peacock Award for Best Film at the 54th IFFI.
• Bulgarian director Stefan Komanderev was awarded the Silver Peacock as Best Director for his film Blaga's Lessons.
• Iranian actor Pouria Rahimi Sam was unanimously voted Best Actor for his role in the film Endless Borders.
• French actress Mélanie Thierry has been awarded the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female) for her role in the film Party of Fools.
• Indian filmmaker Rishabh Shetty has received the Special Jury Award for his critically acclaimed film Kantara.
• Syrian Arab Republic director Regar Azad Kaya received the award for Best Debut Feature Film.
• Drift, a French, British and Greek co-production directed by Anthony Chen, was awarded the prestigious ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal.
• Famous Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas received the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Panchayat Season 2, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, won the award for the recently launched Best Web Series (OTT).

 IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EXAMS

 IFFI

• Beginning:  1952
• By the Film Division of the Government of India under the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Objective: To provide a common platform to cinemas across the world to showcase the excellence of filmmaking art.
• Organised every year by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in collaboration with the Entertainment Society of Goa, Government of the host state Goa.

Goa

• Foundation Day: 3 May
• Capital: Panaji

 Major Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of Goa

• Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
• Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
• Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
• Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary
• Mollem National Park