New Delhi: Filmmakers Aparna Sen and Nandita Das have been awarded the Icon Award at this year’s London Indian Film Festival for their contribution to Indian and global cinema.
The LIFF 2022 was held across four cities of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds and included a series of screenings, in conversation sessions, cinema discussions and an awards ceremony.
“It was a rare honour and pleasure to receive the Icon Award from LIFF. Making films on my own terms without commercial compromise for 40 years has often seemed a thankless job, but now, after the Icon Award, I feel vindicated. Thank you LIFF for continuing to believe in meaningful cinema,” Aparna Sen said.
Sen’s latest film, The Rapist, was among the European premiere highlights at the festival this year. On the other hand, Nandita Das expressed her gratefulness upon receiving the award. “I have seen LIFF grow from strength to strength and I am touched by their appreciation of my choices and my work. It means a lot to me,” Das said.
Director Pan Nalin’s ode to cinema, Chhello Show, became the winner of audience-voted Best Film Award 2022. “This is truly inspiring, uplifting, and enlightening. As a filmmaker the only dream I cherish is to be loved by the audience,” Nalin said.
Tony Matharu, patron of the LIFF 2022 and Chairman of the title sponsor, Blue Orchid Hotels, said, “The creative and arts sectors and cities, particularly London, have been disastrously and disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and government and other restrictions on mobility of communal gatherings. The importance of sharing experiences, human contact, and the need to witness diversity have all been highlighted in recent times.”
(Avya Mathur)