The 16th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) this year has 14 films in its world competition. “This is the most coveted category as it has the best films created around the world every year. The films are picked from over hundreds of entries,” said Jabbar Patel, director, PIFF.
According to Samar Nakhate, vice-president, PIFF, “Films in the world competition are the most viewed. There is anticipation, excitement and expectation. The appreciation is seen in the applause and vigorous discussion after the screenings.”
Two special awards are given to the winners in this category – the government of Maharashtra ;Prabhat’ best international film (Rs 10 lakh) and the government of Maharashtra ‘Prabhat’ best international film director (Rs 5 lakh).
For director Joram Lursen, a Dutch film and television director, being in Pune was a first, although he has visited India before with a children’s film that was screened in Hyderabad. His film, The Longing, was well received at the festival.
“It’s always a privilege if you can show your movies. As a filmmaker it is an honour to travel all the way to be part of the film festival, it’s really special. I saw people laughing at the jokes in the movies and enjoying the scenes. It’s an effort that we took to make it.”
He made the film The Longing in 2016 and released it in 2017. “This is the film’s first international film festival and it’s the first time we are attending the film festival. I am not making films for prizes, but it’s nice to be here to meet people and interact with delegates,” said Lursen, who has made 10 films.
{{/usCountry}}He made the film The Longing in 2016 and released it in 2017. “This is the film’s first international film festival and it’s the first time we are attending the film festival. I am not making films for prizes, but it’s nice to be here to meet people and interact with delegates,” said Lursen, who has made 10 films.
{{/usCountry}}For Jari Virman, actor from the film Euthanizer, he said, “The response of the audience in our country was really good. It is a small budget film, but I am extremely happy seeing people in Pune giving superb feedback.” The film is a 2017 Finnish thriller film. It tells the story of Veijo Haukka, whose second job is to put sick pets to sleep.
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World film competition 2018
I am nobody, director , Muharrem Özabat, Turkey
Requiem For Mrs. J, director, Bojan Vuletic, Serbia
Free And Easy, director,Jun Geng, China,
Women Of The Weeping River, director, Sheron Dayoc, Philippines and France
Euthanizer, director, Teemu Nikki, Finland
Goliath, director Dominik Locher, Switzerland
The Longing, director Joram Lürsen, Netherlands
Zama, director Lucrecia Martel, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Mexico, USA
More, director Onur Saylak, Turkey
The Nothing Factory, director Pedro Pinho, Portugal
I’m A Killer, director Maciej Pieprzyca, Poland
Djam, director Tony Gatlif, Turkey, Greece, France
The Quartette, director Miroslav Krobot, Czech Republic
Nocturnal Times, Director – Priyanandanan Tr , Country – India.