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ENTERTAINMENT EYE DECEMBER 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

IFFI 2024 closes with Satyajit Ray

Lifetime Achievement Award to

Aussie Phillip Noyce

The festival, which began on November 20, showcased over 180 international films from 81 countries,

including 16 world premieres, three international premieres, 43 Asian premieres, and 109 Indian premieres

OUR BUREAU tralian actors for my films, I looked
to cast real people who could simply
Panaji (Goa)
be themselves.”
he closing ceremony of IFFI He further expressed deep grati-
2024 saw the attendance of tude to Ray, saying, “In the world of
Teminent personalities such as Australian cinema, we filmmakers
director Ramesh Sippy, actor Pratik owe a debt to Satyajit Ray that goes
Gandhi, actress and politician Jaya far beyond any award. His influence
Prada, Rupali Ganguly and filmmak- continues to guide and inspire us.”
er Madhur Bhandarkar, among oth- Reflecting on the future of cin-
ers. Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy shared ema, Noyce shared his thoughts on
his experience of attending the 55th the evolving nature of filmmaking.
International Film Festival of India “We must once again turn to Satya-
(IFFI) in Goa and spoke about what jit Ray’s cinematic philosophy: Less
makes the festival special every year. is more. As technology evolves, so
Director Ramesh Sippy has giv- must we. Let movies become smaller
en hits like ‘Sholay’, ‘Shakti’, ‘Saagar’, and Ideas get bigger. That, I believe,
and many others. is the future of cinema”, he asserted.
Sharing her experience of attend- Noyce also took the opportuni-
ing the festival, actress and politician ty to praise IFFI Festival Director
Jaya Prada shared, “I am feeling Shekhar Kapur for his unwavering
proud and grateful that I have been contribution to global cinema, hail-
invited to attend such a big platform.” ing him as an inspiration to filmmak-
Rupali added, “ I am so proud to ers worldwide.
be a part of it. And it’s my first time Phillip Noyce is a celebrated and
here and coming here as a jury mem- awarded Australian director, known
ber for the Web series. It feels I just for his exceptional storytelling and
feel so honoured.” mastery in creating suspenseful, cul-
The festival, which began on turally resonant films. Noyce’s film-
November 20, showcased over 180 ography includes iconic films like
international films from 81 countries, Patriot Games, Clear and Present
including 16 world premieres, three Danger, Salt, The Saint, The Bone
international premieres, 43 Asian Collector and many more. His col-
premieres, and 109 Indian premieres. laborations with celebrated actors
Notably, the organisers paid tribute Goa CM Pramod Sawant presenting Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award like Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman,
to four Indian cinema legends to for Pioneering Cinematic Legacy to renowned Australian Director Phillip Noyce Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington,
mark their 100th birth anniversaries: at the gala closing ceremony of the 55th International Film Festival of India and Michael Caine, underscore his
actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, direc- lasting impact on cinema, as per the
tor Tapan Sinha, Telugu cinema star (IFFI) on Thursday (ANI) press release.
Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), The prestigious Satyajit Ray
and singer Mohammed Rafi. “What an experience it was! It of feature films each year, as per the Lifetime Achievement Award, an
Renowned Australian Director felt as though I was watching films Ministry of Information & Broad- International honour instituted by
Phillip Noyce was honoured with the for the very first time. The Indian casting press release. IFFI, was previously bestowed upon
Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement audience is unlike any other--fully Remembering the legendary luminaries such as Martin Scorsese,
Award for excellence in Cinema at immersed in the emotion of the film, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Noyce said Bernardo Bertolucci, Dilip Kumar,
the gala closing ceremony of the 55th as though they were part of it. There in a statement: “Growing up in Aus- Carlos Saura, Krzysztof Zanussi,
International Film Festival of India is nothing like the Indian audience”, tralia, we were all inspired by the Wong Kar-wai and Michael Douglas,
(IFFI) in Goa. In his acceptance said an elated Noyce. Noyce went on work of Satyajit Ray. I have drawn celebrates individuals whose unpar-
speech, the legendary filmmaker re- to acknowledge the immense influ- from his approach in my own work, alleled contributions have enriched
called his first experience of watching ence of Indian cinema, noting that particularly when casting. Like Ray, the cinematic landscape, as per the
cinema in Mumbai in 1978. India is the world’s largest producer when I couldn’t find indigenous Aus- press release.

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