Angelos Rallis, director of the Greek film Mighty Afrin: In the Time of Floods called for the urgent need to address the issues of climate change and the attendant threats it poses to the entire planet. He was addressing the media at IFFI 54 as his film was screened under the Cinema of the World category in the prestigious festival.

Angello Rallis emphasized that his film is the outcome of his interests in and knowledge of photography, ethnology and anthropology. “This movie is a road trip of over five years, where I had to wear lungi, walk barefoot, had to work with elders of the villagers to gain their trust and confidence,” he said.

Angello Rallis expressed that the lead character Afrin represents the unwavering determination and courage of the marginalized people for survival. In the film, she was shown facing harsh consequences of climate change and the resultant displacement. Angello added that Afrin’s unwavering courage and resilience shine through, providing a beacon of hope amidst the adversity she faces.

“Mighty Afrin: In the Time of Floods” chronicles the extraordinary tale of 12-year-old Afrin as she navigates the tumultuous waters of the Brahmaputra River and the challenges of a changing world. Set against the backdrop of the disappearing mud islands along the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh, this moving narrative follows Afrin’s journey as she embarks on a perilous voyage towards the bustling metropolis of Dhaka in search of her estranged father amidst the devastating floods that threaten to engulf her home.

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.