Columbian film 'Porfirio' wins Golden Peacock at IFFI

Panaji, Dec 3 (IANS) Colombian director Alejendro Landes' 'Porfirio' won the prestigious Golden Peacock award at the 42nd International Film Festival of India, which concluded here Saturday.

The director of 'Porfirio', which deals with the valiant story of a paralysed man who tries to hijack a plane, received the Golden Peacock, certificate and cash prize of Rs.40 lakh, which was shared with the film's producer Franciso Aljure.

The award for the Best Actor (Female) went to Nadezhda Markina for her 'subtle' and restrained performance in the Russian film 'Elena'.

The best actor (male) award went to Sasson Gabai for his remarkable performance in the lead role of Yakob Fidelman in the Israeli film 'Restoration'.

The special jury award comprising of Silver Peacock and Rs.15 lakh cash went to Salim Ahmad, director of the Malayalam film 'Adaminte Makan Abu', 'for its purity of vision encompassing religion, nature and humanity'.

The Award for the Best Director went to Iranian director Asghar Farhadi 'for the deft handling of a deeply complex human situation and the intensity of performances he elicited from his actors in the film 'Nader & Simin, A Seperation'.'

Martine Armand, film expert from Paris and a friend of Farhadi received the award on his behalf - the Silver Peacock, certificate and a cash prize of Rs.15 lakh.