Tremendous honor to receive this award: Michael Douglas
IFFI is a reminder of magic of movie making and cross cultural artistic expressions, transcending time, language and geographies

Renowned Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas was honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Cinema at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa today.

Douglas, accompanied by his spouse, the BAFTA Award winning eminent actress and philanthropist Catherine Zeta Jones and their son and actor, Dylan Douglas received the award at a glittering closing ceremony of the IFFI 54, amid a rousing standing ovation by the audience.

Michael Douglas, known for his era-defining roles, dedicated public service record and enduring cultural impact, expressing his gratitude upon receiving the award, remarked, “It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award, a career life achievement. When I heard about the award, my family and I were elated.”

Douglas said that Cinema has the power to unite and transform the people with cross cultural artistic expressions. Highlighting that Global language of Cinema is global than ever, the two time Oscar winning actor said that the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is a reminder of magic of movie making and cross cultural artistic expressions, transcending time, language and geographies.

Douglas expressed his admiration for the Indian Cinema, saying RRR, Om Shanti Om and Lunch Box are some of his favourite Indian films.

Catherine Zeta Jones, an eminent actress and the wife of Michael Douglas, was also felicitated. Catherine said it was heartwarming to see the generosity and hospitality they received in India.

A legacy spanning more than 50 years in film and television, Michael Douglas has amassed an impressive array of accolades, including 2 Oscars, 5 Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and numerous other honors. His profound impact on cinema resonates through iconic roles, from his Academy Award-winning portrayal as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street to gripping performances in films like Fatal Attraction, The American President, Basic Instinct, Traffic, and Romancing the Stone, among many others.

Michael Douglas, a luminary in the film industry, has captivated audiences globally with his unparalleled talent and commitment to his craft. Beyond his acting prowess, Douglas’s influence extends to production, marked by remarkable works such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The China Syndrome, and The Game. A UN Messenger of Peace, his commitment to global issues includes advocacy for disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and halting illicit arms trade.

The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Cinema, previously bestowed upon luminaries such as Martin Scorsese, Bernardo Bertolucci, Dilip Kumar, Carlos Saura, Krzysztof Zanussi, and Wong Kar-wai, celebrates individuals whose unparalleled contributions have enriched the cinematic landscape. The award is an illustrious recognition of Michael Douglas, who has captivated audiences worldwide with over five decades of exceptional talent and unwavering commitment to his craft.

A film based on good original story and with a universal message can reach global audience: Michael Douglas

To celebrate the universal language of cinema, an ‘In- Conversation’ session with legendary Hollywood actor and film producer Michael Douglas and producer Shailendra Singh was organized on the sidelines of 54^th IFFI in Goa today.

The topical discussion titled ‘Is It Time for One World Cinema?’ threw light on films seeking to transcend geographical boundaries, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences from every corner of the globe.

Engaging with film enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry professionals, Michael Douglas said “A good movie making material, something which is personal and close to one’s home country and having the global potential in its message can appeal to World Cinema.”

He also remarked that in terms of cinema India is quite different compared to most other places as India has an extraordinarily large film industry and has huge population, hence the need and desire to go outside the country is not there as compared to other countries.

Talking about the global appeal of RRR the renowned producer and actor remarked that RRR was such a big hit not only in India but also around the world because the film was made based on India’s own story and with a universal message.

He further added that to see a film succeed, one should make material for themselves and not think if it will reach the rest of the world.

With a career spanning decades and marked by unparalleled success, in  his message for the youth of India he said “ I have the most faith in the younger generation as the younger generation own social media and they understand the need to work closely together to try and solve the global problems like Climate Change.”

Reminiscing about his initial days in the field of production he said it all started with the book ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’  at the young age of 23 years, when his father the late legendary Actor Producer Kirk Douglas acquired the book and developed a play. This is when Michael Douglas stepped in and took charge to make the film. He then went on to make the film that became a hit with the lead actor played by Jack Nicholson starring Danny De Vito.

Speaking about his cinematic exploration and what moves him as an actor in selecting a script, he said “The core for me as an actor is to be a part of good movie, no matter if it is a small part. I would rather do a small role in a good film than do a big part in a bad movie.”

Recalling the legacy his father, late Kirk Douglas has left behind, he said his father’s wise words were “As an actor, the hardest thing to do is to be yourself and be simple, the most difficult thing as an actor is to listen; actors only talk and do not listen much”.

He also shared that just as he is carrying his father’s legacy, he aspires his son Dylan Douglas to do the same.

Speaking about challenges he faced as an actor and overcoming stage fright, Michael Douglas said, “Cameras can always catch a lie and first few years were a challenge. To overcome stage fright, I conditioned my mind in such a manner to make myself understand that acting is pretending and trying to convince others, something that we do every day. This very thought helped me in overcoming my fears and master the craft of acting and I began to enjoy it.”

In response to being recognized as a visionary for cinema, Michael Douglas expressed his gratitude. “As a producer, one has to have a 360 degree knowledge of everything that is going on and that is what keeps him going” he remarked.

Recollecting what his father always told him, Shailendra Singh said, “We all strive to get somewhere, films can be made in any part of the world but the biggest reward and celebration of life is the fact that you are breathing and your heart is still beating. Never forget that being alive is the largest celebration of life.”

The International Jury Members (IFFI) shared their profound experiences and insights on watching the films nominated for the Golden Peacock Award at the 54^th International Film Festival of India being held in Goa. Eminent filmmakers from across the globe, the jury members deliberated on the ‘International Competition’ and the awards to be announced and presented in this section at the closing ceremony of the festival tomorrow.

The Jury unanimously articulated that it has been a great personal experience for them to be a part of the international jury and to select from a diverse and compelling list of stories. They expressed that the International Film Festival of India has grown tremendously since its inception, given the diversity of the entries received and selections made.

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur who is also the Jury Chairperson said that the selection committee has done a remarkable curation of films; he also emphasized on India’s unparalleled content and technological prowess that enriches global cinema. “India has the world’s largest base of content and technology and festivals like IFFI help the rest of the world understand the culture of India”, Shri Shekhar added. Speaking about the growing use of Artificial Intelligence in film making in India, he said “there is no final authority in a creative work.”

Emphasizing the pivotal role of film festivals in facilitating collaborations, Jerome Paillard said, “discovering diverse films and networking for collaborations is the biggest benefit of going to a film festival.  Hailing initiatives like the Film Bazaar for catalyzing impactful partnerships, Jerome said, “marketing initiatives like film bazaar make a big difference about making collaborative projects.” He also praised the Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) initiative, saying it is a really wonderful initiative to nurture the young talent in film making.

Catharine Dussart, echoing the sentiments of Jerome, also lauded the plethora of films in competition and the Film Bazaar’s instrumental role in connecting distributors and producers. She said, “it is very helpful for distributors and producers who come to discover new projects for co-production,” adding that the festival had a great selection of films for the competition this year from different parts of the world.

The Jury effusively praised the warmth and generosity of the festival’s hospitality, acknowledging its invaluable contribution to their experience.

The International Jury will select the winner of the coveted Best Film Award which includes the ‘Golden Peacock’ and Certificates for the Director and Producer. Apart from the Best Film, the Jury will also determine winners in the Best Director, Best Actor (Male), Best Actor (Female) and Special Jury Prize categories.

In IFFI 54, the ‘International Competition’ is a selection of 15 acclaimed feature films of important genres, representing the emerging trends in film making. This year, the festival received a record breaking 2,926 entries from 105 countries.