PIFF 2018 closing ceremony: Pimpal, Mhorkya win 3 awards each in Marathi Competition section

Out of the 14 Marathis films submitted, 7 films — Gajendra Ahire's Pimpal, Kedar Vaidya's Ziprya, Varun Narvekar's Muramba, Amar Bharat Deokar's Mhorkya, Amol Gole's Nashibvaan, Aditya Sarpotdar's Faster Fene, and Prasad Oak's Kaccha Limbu — were screened in Marathi Competition section at the 16th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF). 

Mhorkya and Pimpal ended up winning big, each bagging three trophies, at the award function at the closing ceremony of the festival on 18 January. 

Pimpal won the Jury Award for Best International Marathi Film, and took home the winning amount of Rs5 lakh.

Pimpal review: Watch Dilip Prabhavalkar at his best in this emotional drama

Besides, the film's writer-director, Gajendra Ahire, received Best Screenplay and Best Direction trophies, too. 

PIFF 2018: You have to be alert when you work with Dilip Prabhavalkar, says Gajendra Ahire

The Audience Award for Best Film went to first-time director Amar Deokar's Mhorkya. The Best Actor trophy went to Raman Devkar for Mhorkya. Devkar portrayed the character of a boy struggling to find his place in an unfair world in his debut film. The Best Cinematography award was given to Girish R Jhambhalikar for his breathtaking work in the film. 

Mhorkya review: A not-to-be-missed, enriching cinematic experience

The Best Actress Award went to Mitali Jagtap for her strong yet vulnerable portrayal in Nashibvaan. Sachin Khedekar received a Special Jury Award for his warm performance in Kaccha Limbu and for the portrayal of a worried father in Muramba. 

In the World Competition section Chinese film Free And Easy won Best International Film Award and Lucrecia Martel won Best International Director Award for Argentinian film Zama. 

The jury included Canadian director Mathieu Denis, Sri Lankan filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara, Indian writer Kamlesh Pandey, Mexico's Rodrigo Pla, Italian director Maurizio Nichetti, Iranian actress Gelareh Abbasi, Polish director Joanna Kos-Krauze and Malayalam filmmaker Dr Bijukumar Damodaran.

Here is the complete winners list at PIFF 2018: 

Government of Maharashtra's 'Sant Tukaram' Best Internatitonal Marathi Film: Pimpal  

Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal Best Marathi Film Director Award: Gajendra Ahire for Pimpal

Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal Best Marathi Film Actor Award: Raman Devkar

Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal Best Marathi Screenplay Award: Gajendra Ahire for Pimpal

Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal Best Marathi Film Cinematographer Award: Girish R Jhambhalikar for Mhorkya

Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal Best Marathi Film Actress Award: Mitali Jagtap

Special Jury Award: Sachin Khedekar for Kaccha Limbu and Muramba

Audience Award For Best Marathi Film: Mhorkya 

Audience Award For Best Film, World Cinema: Euthanizer (Finland)

Government of Maharashtra, 'Prabhat' Best International Film Award: Free And Easy (China)

Government of Maharashtra, 'Prabhat' Best International Film Director Award: Lucrecia Martel for Zama (Argentina)  

Special Jury Award: Director Bojan Vuletic for Requiem For Mrs J (Serbia)