27th IFFK awards announced: Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Ariyippu win big

On the closing day of the 27th International Film Festival of Kerala, the awards for the most well-received films at the event have been announced. Lijo Jose Pellissery's Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (Like An Afternoon Dream) and Mahesh Narayanan's Ariyippu (Declaration) took home the top awards: the former the Audience Prize Rajata Chakoram; the latter the NETPAC award for Best Malayalam Film.

The Lifetime Achievement Award of the 27th International Film Festival of Kerala was presented to legendary Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr by VN Vasavan, Minister for Culture. A legendary film pioneer, Tarr often highlighted humanitarian issues in his films using a unique cinematic philosophy, which soon grew as a cinematic concept that is followed by other filmmakers worldwide. IFFK featured a Retrospective of his films which included Werckmeister Harmonies and The Turin Horse, widely regarded as two of his finest works.

The rest of the winners are:

The NETPAC Jury Special Mention - Our Home/Eikhoigi Yum, directed by Romi Meitei Mayanglambam.

The FFSI KR Mohanan Award for Best Debut Director from India - Siddharth Chauhan for Amar Colony.

The Suvarna Chakoram for Best Film - Utama, directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi.

The International Competition Jury Special Mention - Manisha Soni and Muskan, actors of the film A Place of Our Own/Ek Jagah Apni, directed by Ektara Collective.

The Rajata Chakoram for Best Director - Tayfun Pirselimoglu for the film Kerr.

The Rajata Chakoram for Best Debut Director - Firas Khoury for the film Alam.

The NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film - Alam, directed by Firas Khoury.

FIPRESCI Award for Best Debut Director in Malayalam - Indhu VS for 19(1)(a).

FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film 19(1)(a), directed by Indhu VS