Panaji, Nov 28 (UNI) Curtains come down on the nine day International Film Festival of India (IFFI) with a glittering closing ceremony organised at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium here on Sunday.

Actors Randhir Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Madhuri Dixit were felicitated for their contribution to Indian cinema.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chairman and lyricist Prasoon Joshi was awarded with 'Indian Film Personality of the Year Award'.
Madhuri Dixit was chief guest at the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Madhuri Dixit thanked IFFI for recognizing the contribution of actress Hema Malini by honouring her with 'Indian Film Personality of the Year Award' this year.
'It is heartening to note IFFI provides a global platform to Indian content creators, technicians, allowing them to showcase the prowess of Indian entertainment on the global stage,' she said, adding it was a wonderful time for women in films.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur congratulated the movies that got selected for the film festival in various categories and invited world directors to India to share their talent.
He congratulated 75 creative minds representing gen next cinema for attending the ceremony and hoped that some of them would come back as icons of cinema.
The novel initiative was organised under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage and recognise young creative minds and budding talents in the country.
He said, 'The 52nd IFFI is spearheading us to new beginnings. We have come together to celebrate our rich tradition of filmmaking and the art of storytelling through cinema.'
Lyricist Prasoon Joshi said he would continue to do what he does.
He said there should be magic in films. However, he said filmmaking was not magic and there was no shortcut to it.
'IFFI has been more than an award show, it has been a festival. I think what these 75 Creative Minds can do for the country is what really gives me hope,' he said.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee said IFFI was a great vehicle to encourage the new film makers from the country
'India can be the biggest force in entertainment industry in the world in the coming years and this platform
of IFFI can be the major force,' he said.
Uttar Pradesh was awarded the most friendly state for film shooting.
As many as 234 films were screened during the festival.
Members of the BRICS Film Festival jury were felicitated on the occasion. Director Yan Han was awarded the Special Mention Award under BRICS Film Festival for the film 'A Little Red Flower'
'Lingui-The Sacred Bonds” directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun won ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Award.
Japanese Film ‘Ring Wandering’, a film which resurrects memories of Tokyo’s hidden war-torn past, bagged the Golden Peacock while Czech Director Václav Kadrnka bagged Silver Peacock for Best Director for ‘Saving One Who Is Dead’, a Candle of Hope Amidst the Winter of Despair
Actor Jitendra Bhikulal Joshi’s brilliant portrayal of Late Marathi actor and filmmaker Nishikant Kamat in ‘Godavari’ earned him Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male).
Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female) went to Spanish Actor Angela Molina for her role as Charlotte, a performance which captivated all jury members.
Marathi Director Nikhil Mahajan’s ‘Godavari’ received Silver Peacock for Special Jury Award, sharing the award with Brazilian Actress Renata Carvalho for her role in Director Rodrigo de Oliveira’s ‘The First Fallen’.
Russian Director Roman Vasyanov’s ‘The DORM’ received Special Mention for its impactful narration of the complicated and corrupted society of the 1984 USSR.
Director Mari Alessandrini’s ‘Zahorí’, which lampoons religion and colonisation and gives respect to the organic indigenous people of Patagonia in an elegant and visually intelligent way, was adjudged Best Debut Feature Film.
Spanish film 'The Wealth of the World' by debut Director Simon Farriol received Special Mention in the Debut Competition Category.
Marathi film Godavari by Nikhil Mahajan and Brazilian Actor Renata Carvalho, who has acted in Director Rodrigo de Oliveira’s The First Fallen, shared Silver Peacock for Special Jury Award.
UNI AKM SY 1858