‘Nonajoler Kabbo’ best film in Asian Select Category at Kolkata International Film Festival

Bangladeshi director Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's acclaimed debut feature film "Nonajoler Kabbo" won the Best Film in the Asian Select NETPAC category of the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival, reports our New Delhi correspondent. The festival ended at Nandan Cultural Center on Friday.

Iranian movie ''Bander Band',' directed by Manjieh Hekmat, received the coveted Golden Royal Bengal Tiger trophy and a cash award of Rs 51 lakh as the Best Film and Artykpai Suiundukov bagged the Best director crown for ''Shambala'' from Kyrgyzstan and Rs 21 lakh as prize money.

Rezwan commented that the award for his film would inspire Bangladeshi filmmakers, for whom the entire year was spent under the shadow of uncertainty and anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm sure everyone in Bangladesh will be exulted by the award," he added, saying that it is a "proud" moment for the entire crew of his film.

Eminent Indian director Goutam Ghose, a member of the organising committee of the KIFF, was content with the festival's proceedings. He said that despite the postponement of the Festival from November last year to January 2021 due to the pandemic, the event was organised successfully, as the festival concluded with large-scale participation of people.