đ„ Indian director Chaitanya Tamhane wins screenplay and international critics awards at Venice for film about young musician and Guru in the world of Indian classical music – read our interview with the director in Venice
đ„ Film was first Indian to feature in the main competition since Mira Nairâs âMonsoon Weddingâ in 2001
đ„ Another film from India, âMeel Pattharâ (‘Milestone’) also had its world premiere at Venice in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section and interview with director Ivan Ayr comingâŠ
đ„ âNomadlandâ announced as best film at Venezia 77
*Possible updates to follow – keep tuned to Twitter to see
CHAITANYA TAMHANE â the young director behind the Indian film, âThe Discipleâ is basking in the glory of a Venice Film Festival award and a prestigious international criticsâ badge of approval too.
Tamhaneâs film was the first Indian film to feature in the competition section of a major European international film festival since Mira Nairâs âMonsoon Weddingâ won the Golden Lion â the festivalâs top prize in 2001.
At Saturdayâs (September 12) closing ceremony and awards, Tamhane and his film, âThe Discipleâ was presented with the best screenplay award at the festival.
The film was also given the FIPRESCI award â chosen by a group of international critics on the day before (September 11).
âThe Discipleâ is still looking for distribution and Tamhane, 33, told the Mumbai Mirror (see link below) today that they are talking to interested parties, both about a possible online and theatrical release. Cinemas in India remain closed due to the pandemic.
He told the tabloid the win was âspecialâ â his previous film, âCourtâ (2014) also had its world premiere in Venice and won two awards there â see our Venice preview.
He has received a round of plaudits from the Indian film industry with Richa Chadha, Manoj Bajpayee, Varun Grover, Ali Fazala and Anurag Kashyap among those all expressing their admiration and pride via social media.
Earlier reacting to his award from the Federation Internationale de la Presse Cinamatographique â Fipresci â he said this award touched him because of its reach, representing critics from the around the world.
The last Indian film to be given a FIPRESCI was âMathilukalâ by Adoor Gopalakrishnan in 1990.
Taking home the top prize, The Golden Lion this year, is a film by Chloé Zhao and starring Frances McDormand as a widow who takes to a camper van to eke out a living in the American northwest.
The Silver Lion and Grand Jury Prize went to Mexican directorâs âNuevo Ordenâ (âNew Orderâ); the best director award went to Kiyoshi Kurosawa for âSpy no Tsumaâ ââWife of a spyâ).
Russian Andrei Konchalovsky took home the special jury prize for âDorogie Tovarishchi!â (âDear Comradesâ). The best actress prize went to Vanessa Kirby in âPieces of a Womanâ by Kornel MundruczĂł. Pierfrancesco Favino won the best actor prize for Padrenostro by Italian Claudio Noce. In the best young category Rouhollah Zamani won for âKorshidâ (âSun Childrenâ) by Majid Majidi. He made âBeyond the Cloudsâ with Ishan Khatter two years ago.
The top winner in the Orizzonti section is âDashte Khamoushâ (âThe Wastelandâ) by fellow Iranian Ahmad Bahrami. (For the full list, see below)
Venice went ahead pretty much as normal, but practised social distancing and took other measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Tamhane travelled to Venice from India and had to comply with regulations â he took Covid-19 tests before leaving India and on arrival in Italy.
You can read more about the film and its making in our Venice interview. Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron is an executive producer. (See the link below for more).
Main picture: The Disciple team with Venezia 77 officials – courtesy of La Biennale Di Venezia
Links
https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/official-awards-77th-venice-film-festival
