Entertainment Desk:

Indian film “The Golden Thread,” portraying how the last vestiges of the industrial revolution were impacted by forces of economic change, won the coveted Golden Conch award for Best Documentary at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) this year.

The film, directed by Nistha Jain not only illustrates the relationship of man to machine but also questions how capitalism values man as equal only to his labour.

Announcing the top award, the MIFF jury said “the stunning imagery and sound, depicted in the film, weave a beautiful narrative that reminds us of the reason why documentary is still such a compelling art form.”

The award carries a Golden Conch, certificate, and a cash prize of Rs10 lakh.

“‘Sour Milk,” a short film directed by Vera Pirogova from Estonia, bagged the Best International Short Fiction Film award. The award carries a Silver Conch and a cash prize of Rs5 lakh.

The short film eloquently portrays the intricate bond between a mother and her son, weaving a narrative rich in expectation and disappointment. The film guides viewers through a universal story of familial struggle and growth where unspoken emotions shape the journey, illustrating that even the primal bonds of a mother and a son left untended can sometimes curdle like milk.

“Zima,” a film directed by Tomek Popakul, Kasumi Ozeki from Poland won the Best International Animation Film award, which carries a Silver Conch and a cash prize of Rs5 lakh.

The film portrays a fishing village where there is both violence and warmth as both humans and animals struggle to coexist with their own kind in an avant-garde abstract and courageous animated story.

The award for the most innovative and experimental film (to director only) went to “The Old Young Crow” (Japan). Directed by Liam Lopinto, the film is an inventive story of multiple dualities – two worlds defined by languages, cultures, generations, the living, and the dead.

“Lovely Jackson,” directed by Matt Waldeck of the US, bagged the Special Jury Mention award.  The film is a riveting story of broken dreams, forgiveness and a mother’s love but ultimately it is a portrait of how the human spirit can maintain courage and resilience in the face of extreme injustice, how one man can rise above his unbearable circumstances and find the strength not only to meet the worst with grace but to become a beacon of hope and redemption to others.

A total of 25 films were selected for the International Competition section of MIFF which includes separate categories for documentary, short fiction, and animation films.