Sri Lankan film ‘Riverstone’ wins best Director at KIFF

Sri Lankan movie 'Riverstone', directed by Lalith Rathnayake, won the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Director in the International Competition at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), which concluded on Thursday.

Cuban film 'To the West in Zapata' by David Bim won the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film in the same section, while Croatian film Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day by Ivona Juka received the Special Jury Award for Best Director. The Golden Royal Bengal Award for Best Indian Documentary went to Bijoyee Japoner Patkatha (The Saga of a Glorious Life: Bijoylaxmi Barman) by Joydeep Banerjee.

Renowned filmmaker Goutam Ghosh, known internationally for films including Paar, Padmanadir Majhi, Kalbela*, Moner Manush, Raaghir, and Antarjali Yatra, was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of the 100th anniversary of FIPRESCI.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who made a surprise appearance at the festival’s closing ceremony, extended an invitation to foreign delegates to invest in West Bengal’s film industry. Speaking to the audience, she said, “We have no shortage of talent in Bengal. Apart from talented artists, our state has abundant natural resources—from the Himalayas and dense forests to rivers, reservoirs, and stunning beaches. You just have to come here, meet our filmmakers, and see the work of our actors and actresses.”