MIFF awards: Indian, British, Romanian films share top honours, Mike Pandey has been honoured with the V Shantaram Life Time Achievement

Two films from India and one film each from the UK and Romania bagged top honours in the International Competition Section of the 12th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). The Golden Conch, Silver Conch and other Trophies and Certificates were presented to the winners at the valedictory function of the Mumbai International Film Festival at NCPA, Mumbai this evening. Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, S Jagatrakshakan was the chief guest. The winners (International Competition) are: Nitin Kumar Pamnani's film 'I am Your Poet' won the Best Documentary Film (up to 40 minutes duration) award comprising the Golden Conch and Rs 5 lakh (Rs 500,000) in cash. Pamnani's film in Hindi and Bhojpuri is about the poetry of Rama Shankar Yadav 'Vidrohi'. 'Shape of the Shapeless' by the New York based filmmaker Jayant Cherian was adjudged the second Best short Film with Silver Conch and Rs 250,000 in cash. Kim Longinotto's 'Pink Saris' won the Golden Conch for Best Documentary Film above 40 minutes duration. The British film maker's documentary tells the story of the 'Gulabi Gang' which is active in Uttar Pradesh, empowering women. The Silver Conch for Best Documentary above 40 minutes duration is shared by 'Dreaming Taj Mahal' by Nirmal Chandar and the Russian entry 'Home' by Olga Maurina. The Golden Conch for Best Fiction film went to 'Music in the Blood' by Alexandru Mavrodineanu from Romania. Anand Tharane and Krunal Rawal won the Golden Conch in the Best Animation Film Category for 'Prince'. The film is about a taxi named Prince and how it finds outdated when new sedans arrive on the streets of Mumbai. The International Jury Award was shared between two films Moni Bency's 'Mahashwetadevi -Close-up' and Mamta Murty's Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and Premier Show dealing with the alternative cinema tradition in Manipur. Anand Patvardhan's 'Jai Bhim Comrade' won the Best Film of the Festival Award for Producer. The award carries a prize money of Rs two lakh. Pankaj Johar's 'Still Standing' has won the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Award for Best Debut film as a Director. The award instituted by the Government of Maharashtra comprises a trophy and Rs 1 lakh in cash. The Indian Competition Section was reintroduced during MIFF 2012 to promote and encourage the Indian documentary film makers. Rajesh Jala's Hindi Bhojpuri documentary 'At the Stairs' won the Best Documentary Film Award fetching him the Golden Conch and Rs 5 lakh in cash. The film examines the lives of widows in Banaras seeking Moksha - liberation from the cycle of life and death. Veteran environmental film maker Mike Pandey has been honoured with the V Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival – MIFF 2012. The award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs.The Award was presented to Mike Pandey by the Governor of Maharashtra, K Sankaranarayanan in the presence of Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Chaudhury Mohan Jathua, veteran film historian Vijaya Mulay and popular Marathi actor Amrutha Khanvilkar at the opening ceremony of the festival on Friday.Mike Pandey is one of India’s foremost wildlife and environmental filmmakers with over 300 national and international awards. He has made films like Shores of Silence, The Last Migration, Broken Wings and The Timeless Traveller.