Utpal Borpujari's debut feature film, Ishu (Assamese, 91 minutes, 2017), produced by Children's Film Society, India (CFSI) has won the Special Jury Award in the Chitra bharathi Indian Film Competition at the 10th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES), which was organised in the Karnataka capital from February 22 to March 1.
The film was earlier nominated for best director and best film in the Indian Languages Competition in the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival, and has been screened in Canada Kids Film Festival (Toronto), International Children's Film Festival Bangladesh (Dhaka, International Competition), 3rd Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY, New Delhi), 3rd Eye Asian Film Festival Mumbai, 10th International Guwahati Film Festival (organised by Gauhati Cine Club) and the 1st Assam International Rural Film Festival, Meleng Phesual (Jorhat). It has also been selected for competition in the Toulouse Indian Film Festival, France, to be held in April.
The jury in its citation wrote that the award has been given to Ishu "for a vivid portrayal of how indigenous communities confront and overcome their barbaric practices from within. The film also looks at the interface of tradition and modernity avoiding hierarchical categories".
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