Malayalam Films Feminichi Fathima And Appuram Selected For 29th IFFK

Feminichi Fathima – directed by Fasil Muhammed – and Appuram, directed by Indu Lakshmi, have been chosen as Malayalam films in the International Competition section for the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The film festival will held in December this year. A committee headed by filmmaker Jeo Baby, consisting of screenwriter PS Rafeeque, actor Divya Prabha and filmmakers Vinu Kolichal and Fazil Razak chose 12 films that would be part of the Malayalam Cinema Today section. The films to be screened under the section are VC Abhilash’s A Pan Indian Story, Adithya Baby’s Kamadevan Nakshathram Kandu, Abhilash Babu’s Mayunnu Maarivarayunnu Nishaswangalil, Shobhana Padinjhattil’s Girlfriends, K Rinoshun’s Velicham Thedi, Dinjith Ayyathan’s Kishkindha Kaandam, Midhun Murali’s Kiss Wagon, Jithin Issac Thomas’s Path, RK Krishand’s Sangarsha Ghadana, Santosh Babusenan and Satheesh Babusenan’s Mukhakkannadi, J Sivaranjini’s Victoria and Cyril Abraham Dennis’ Watuzi Zombie. Out of these 14 filmmakers, eight are debutants.

Among these is this year’s Onam blockbuster Kishkindha Kaandam, directed by Dinjith Ayyathan and starring Asif Ali, Vijayaraghavan, and Aparna Balaramurali in the lead roles. Released on September 12, the film opened to rave reviews from both critics and the general audience.

At last year’s 28th IIFK event, the much-anticipated Suvarna Chakoram for Best Film was awarded to Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist, which delves into ecological concerns in the fast-changing world.

The prestigious award was received by the film’s cinematographer, Yoshio Kitagawa. The accolade came with a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh, a memento, and a certificate. Notably, the Malayalam film Thadavu and its director, Fazil Razak, emerged as double winners, with Razak honoured with the Rajata Chakoram for Best Debut Director. Additionally, Thadavu secured the coveted Audience Poll Award.

The Rajata Chakoram Best Director award was shared with Shokir Kholikov for his Uzbek film titled Sunday, which explores generational conflict in a village. Sunday also clinched the Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema (Netpac) award for the best Asian film. Anand Ekarashi’s directorial Attam secured the Netpac award for the best Malayalam film.