Geethu Mohandas’s Moothon (Malayalam/Hindi) won the Best Film award at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), which was held virtually from 24 July through 2 August.
Nivin Pauly was chosen Best Actor for his performance in the same film while Sanjana Dipu, also from Moothon, was chosen Best Child Actor. Garggi Ananthan, who starred in J Geetha’s Run Kalyani (Malayalam), was chosen Best Actress.
The Best Director award went to Achal Mishra for his Maithili language film, Gamak Ghar (2019). The film was premiered at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival last year and won the Manish Acharya award for New Voices in Indian Cinema there. It also competed at the Arthouse Asia Film Festival in Kolkata in January this year.
Congratulations to the #NYIFF2020 #AwardWinners at the 20th New York Indian Film Festival: 2020 Virtual Edition powered by @MovieSaints #BestActress #GarggiAnanthan #RunKalyani#BestActor @NivinOfficial #BestDirector @achalchitra #gamakghar #BestFilm #Moothon @geetumohandas pic.twitter.com/D0CmIPMAO1
— New York Indian Film Festival (@nyindianff) August 2, 2020
Incidentally, the two Malayalam films were chosen as the closing and opening films of the festival. Coincidentally, both films have been made by woman directors working in Malayalam cinema.
Moothon (2020), written by Geethu and Anurag Kashyap, was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and has had a fantastic run in the festival circuit.
Geetha's debut feature film, Run Kalyani (2019) was premiered at the Kolkata International Film Festival in 2019, where it won the Special Jury award. It also won the FIPRESCI-India award at the International Film Festival of Thrissur, and is listed in the Top 20 Indian films of 2019 by the India chapter of the International Film Critics' Organization, known by its French acronym.
At the virtual closing ceremony on Sunday night, Garggi Ananthan said, “This is really wonderful. This is my first film and first award. I am so thankful to Geetha chechi for choosing me and trusting me with Kalyani. I dedicate this award to all women who believe they have the right to dream!”
The Best Documentary (Feature) award was given to Son Rise (2019), directed by Vibha Bakshi. The documentary has previously won several awards, including the National Film award for Best Non-Feature Film and for Best Non-Feature Film Editing.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Documentary Short: Tailing Pond
Best Documentary (Feature): Son Rise
Best Short (Narrative): Arabian Nights
Best Screenplay: Sudhanshu Saria (Knock Knock Knock)
Best Child Actor: Sanjana Dipu (Moothon)
Best Actress: Garggi Ananthan (Run Kalyani)
Best Actor: Nivin Pauly (Moothon)
Best Director: Achal Mishra (Gamak Ghar)
Best Film: Moothon