Filmmaker Pushpendra Singh's next, Laila Aur Satt Geet (The Shepherdess And The Seven Songs), has won the NETPAC award at the Jeonju International Film Festival. The delayed Korean festival began on 28 May, after it was postponed from its usual April slot.
The 21st edition of the festival had only three sections, one for international films in competition, another for Korean films in competition and a third for Korean short films in competition. A few of these films would be available to view online until 20 September.
The Chinese film Damp Season won the Grand Prize. According to a report on Variety.com, a ceremony was held with "80 people in attendance including chairman Kim Seung-su of the organizing committee, festival director Lee Joondong, jury members, and some of the directors".
Producer Sanjay Gulati announced the film's big win yesterday. "It's an award which the NETPAC jury gives to one of the best Asian films nominated by the festival. NETPAC is the association of film critics from Asia," he explained in his tweet.
Amidst the lockdown, Jeonju International Film Festival has gone ahead with its edition and yesterday at the awards night, . It's an award which the Netpac jury gives to one of the best Asian films nominated by the festival. Netpac is the association of film critics from Asia. pic.twitter.com/gmYkWAACpM
— Sanjay Gulati (@sanjaygul) June 2, 2020
Pushpendra Singh's Gojri-language film had been selected last year for NFDC's Work-In-Progress Lab 2019 at the Film Bazaar in Goa.
'The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs' by Pushpendra Singh, NFDC Film Bazaar's #CPM2017 & #WIPLab2019 film, has won the #NETPAC Award at the 21st @JEONJU_IFF. Congratulations!👏https://t.co/04FQs507FD#TheShepherdessandtheSevenSongs #LailaAurSattGeet #PushpendraSingh @Netpacasia pic.twitter.com/XZhRiG6Rcr
— NFDC Film Bazaar (@filmbazaarindia) June 3, 2020
The film was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Encounters section earlier this year. Starring Navjot Randhawa, Sadakkit Bijran and Shahnawaz Bhat, Laila Aur Satt Geet is inspired by the poems of Kashmiri mystic Lalleshwari, and a Rajasthani folk song.