'Masaan', 'Mina Walking' win top laurels at ALIIFF 2015

Kochi: The first edition of the All Lights India International Film Festival and Indywood Film Market came to a close here on Thursday with films such as "Masaan", "Mina Walking" and "Nirbashito" bagging the top awards.

Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was the guest of the honour at the closing ceremony, which was followed by the awards function.

On the occasion, Prosenjit said: "The concept of Indywood brings together fragmented pieces of Indian film industry. It shows that Indian cinema is not just Bollywood and that regional cinema is equally important."

Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Kerala's minister for forest, environment, transport, sports and cinema was the special guest.

The international competition jury, headed by Iranian filmmaker Khosro Masoumi, awarded the Golden Frame award for best feature film to Neeraj Ghaywan's critically acclaimed "Masaan", while the award for best debut director film was pocketed by Yosef Baraki's "Mina Walking".

In the same category, "Nekro" and "Ben and Ara" won the special mention jury awards.

In the Indywood panorama competition section, Bengali film "Nirbashito" won the best film award. The film is directed by debutante Churni Ganguly.

Indian film "I Exist", which is directed by actress Radhika Prasidhha along with Vivek Raju bagged the best film in the international competition for short films category.

The special mention jury awards went to "Symmetry" from Netherlands and "Till Jail Do Us Apart" from Puerto Rico.

"Simply As A Human Being", a film from Poland, won the best film in the international competition for documentary section.

Bruce Dickson's "One Hundred Mules Walking The Los Angeles Aqueduct" was awarded the best documentary feature. The special jury award went to "Garden of Hope".

The people's choice award went to "My Life with a King" by Carlo Enciso Catu.