Pilibhit, Rattai Jadai, Awakash win big at DCSAFF 2022

The 10th annual Washington DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) concluded on 30 January with the announcement of award winners.

The festival, which was held virtually, began on 16 January.

In the Jury award section, Pilibhit won the Best Short Film Award while Rattai Jadai (Girl with A Red Ribbon) won the Special Jury Mention Best Short Film. The Marathi feature Awakash won the Best Feature Film Award while Fire of Teak Flame Of Chinar won the Special Jury Mention Best Feature Film. Borderland won the award for Best Documentary while Body, Home, World: South Asian LGBTQ+ Journeys won the award for Best Short Documentary.

The Best Actor Male Feature Film Award went to Harish Khanna for God on the Balcony and the award for Best Actor Female Feature Film went to Rituparna Sengupta for The Parcel. Bijit Basumatary was presented the award for Best Child Actor for Sijou.

DCSAFF also conducted an audience poll in which the Best Short Documentary Award was won by Walls That Matter. There was a tie between the films Vrutti and Freddie's Piano for the Best Feature Film, and the short films Civil Disobedience: Perspective and Bobby were also tied for the Best Short Film Award. The Best Documentary Award was won by Dreaming of Words.

Some of the themes that these films deal with include challenges in South Asian countries, the burden of poverty, acceptance of cultural change, mental issues, caste discrimination, and the migrant crisis.