IFFK: This Is Not a Burial wins Suvarna Chakoram at IFFK; Musical Chair is best Malayalam film

Berlin-based director Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese’s socio-political drama

This Is Not a Burial

, It's a Resurrection, in his native Mosotho language, won the

Suvarna Chakoram

at the 25th edition of the

IFFK

, which concluded on Friday at Palakkad. Speaking in an online message, the Lesotho-origin director said, “We shot in such difficult conditions and the film is a labour of love. Thank you for celebrating us with this amazing prize.”

The film also won a Special Mention for Acting for the late Maria Twala Mhlongo, who plays an elderly woman making preparations for her funeral arrangements and finds that her native land is being taken to build a dam. Speaking of the performance, the jury said in a statement, “Her fierce yet sage performance in This is Not a Burial, But a Resurrection will remain an eternal inspiration in the world of cinema. Though she passed away soon after completing the film at the age of 80, she leaves behind a courageous and dignified image of the human body and the celebration of the spirit of innovation and commitment to her art.”

The Rajatha Chakoram for best director went to Bolivian director Bahman Tavoosi, who marked his feature debut with The Names of the Flowers. The Best Malayalam Film award went to Vipin Atley’s Musical Chair, while Lijo Jose Pellissery’s fantasy thriller, which weaves in his typical existentialist angst, won the Audience Poll award and Special Mention for Direction in the International Competition category.

The FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in International Competition went to Azerbaijani film In Between Dying directed by Hilal Baydarov.