cannes Winner ‘President’s cake’ to Compete for Gandhi Medal at IFFI Goa
Panaji,Goa – Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s Cannes-winning film,”President’s Cake,” is among the international contenders vying for the prestigious gandhi Medal at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The proclamation positions the Iranian political satire alongside a diverse slate of films exploring themes of identity, conflict, and social justice.
“President’s cake,” which received a standing ovation at Cannes, depicts a retired government employee and his wife who attempt to deliver a cake to the president as a form of protest. The film’s inclusion at IFFI underscores a growing trend of politically and socially engaged cinema gaining international recognition.
Other films in contention for the Gandhi Medal include Nadia Falls’ “Brides,” a British-Muslim coming-of-age drama nominated for a World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance; eirik Svensson’s “Safe House,” winner of the Audience Dragon Award at the Göteborg Film Festival for its depiction of Doctors Without Borders during the Central African Republic civil war; and Ujkan Hysaj’s debut,”Hana,” which premieres at IFFI and explores art therapy with war survivors in Kosovo.
The selection also features Iranian actor Ebrahim Amini’s directorial debut, “K Poper,” following a teenage girl’s K-pop obsession; Japanese auteur Kawase Naomi’s “Yakushima’s Illusion,” starring Vicky Krieps and nominated for a Golden Leopard at Locarno; and three Indian films: Anupam Kher’s “Tanvi the Grate,” about a woman with autism fulfilling her father’s dream; Praveen Morchhale’s Urdu-language drama “White snow,” facing censorship challenges; and Jitank Singh Gurjar’s Toronto Netpac Award winner, “Vimukt” (“In Search of The Sky”), chronicling a pilgrimage with a son with intellectual disabilities.
The jury, chaired by Ahmed Bedjaoui, artistic director of the International Film festival of algiers, will also include Xueyan Hun, vice-president of ICFT and director of the Platform for Creativity and Innovation; Serge Michel, vice president of UNICA; Tobias Biancone, former director-general of the International Theatre Institute; and Georges Dupont, director-general of ICFT and former senior international civil servant at UNESCO.
The Gandhi Medal is awarded to a film promoting non-violence and ideals for which Mahatma Gandhi stood. IFFI Goa runs from November 20-28,2023.
