CAIRO, Dec 1 - As the 39th Cairo International Film Festival came to a close last night, Rima Das�s acclaimed film, Village Rockstars, clinched the prestigious Fatah Farag Prize for Best Artistic Contribution. Das had bagged altogether five awards in the Mumbai International Film Festival recently. In her absence, the award was received by an Indian representative here. Village Rockstars competed with six other films from across the globe in the International Critics� Week Competition in which the cinema of only women directors were showcased.
French director Evangelia Kranioti, one of the jurors of the section, told this correspondent on the sidelines of the prize ceremony that ��it is a wonderfully powerful and inspiring movie and despite its profound minimalism, it makes a huge impact on viewers with the story of the indomitable spirit of a mother-daughter duo amidst all odds.�� She added: �It is also the incredible story of a woman who not only funds her own project but accomplishes everything from writing and cinematography to editing, and she has done everything with �lan.��
It must be noted that in the festival, the coveted Golden and Silver Pyramid awards were received by Italian movie The Intruder by Lionardo Di Costanza and Cambodian film Killing Jesus by Laura Moura Ortega respectively. The latter also bagged the FIPRESCI Award. Both The Intruder and Killing Jesus have basically the same kind of plot despite having a wholly opposite narrative, in which its protagonists go through difficult phases when they come across complex moral dilemmas.
In the section, Lebanon actress Diamand Bou Abboud received the best actress award for Insyriated, a one-room drama featuring a family caught in the ravaging war in Syria. On the other hand, Tunisia by Night protagonist Raouf Ben Amor received the best actor award for his evocative performance in the role of a father whose conservative values are put to test by his daughter who seeks liberty and is enchanted by modern values, which reflects a typical predicament faced by the Arabian society.
In the concluding function, the festival also honoured three Hollywood stars � Nicholas Cage, Adrien Brody and Hillary Swank. Nicholas Cage has won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of an alcoholic writer in Leaving Las Vegas, while Adrien Brody is mostly known for his leading role in the blockbuster, King Kong as well as his performance in The Pianist, which earned him an Oscar. Hillary Swank, on the other hand, gained global acclaim for roles in movies like PS I Love You, Freedom Writers and Insomnia. She is also a major award winner, securing two Oscars and two Golden Globes for her movies, Boys Don�t Cry and Million Dollar Baby.
