Suvarna Chakoram for 'Utama'; 'Ariyippu' bags NETPAC Award, 'Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam' named popular film, 27th edition of IFFK comes to an end

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'Utama', a Bolivian film directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi, has won the Suvarna Chakoram award (Golden Crow Pheasant) for the best film at the 27th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The prize money is Rs 20 lakhs. 'Ariyippu', directed by Mahesh Narayanan, won the NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film. Meanwhile, director Lijo Jose Pellissery's Mammootty-starrer 'Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam' has won the award for the popular film.

Director Tayfun Pirselimoglu won the Rajatha Chakoram award (Silver Crow Pheasant) for Best Director. Firas Khoury, who directed 'Alam', won the Rajatha Chakoram for Best Director in India. The same film also won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film. PS Indu won the FIPRESCI Award for Malayalam Cinema. The KR Mohanan Award for Debutant Director went to Siddharth Chauhan who directed 'Amar Colony'. 'Our Home' won FIPRESCI Award for International Film.

The renowned Hungarian director Béla Tarr received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony's conclusion. Culture Minister VN Vasavan distributed the awards.