15 Films to Compete for Golden Peacock at IFFI 2024

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Fear & Trembling from Iran to Feature for Golden Peacock at IFFI 2024

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, November 13: Fifteen films, showcasing powerful storytelling from around the globe, are set to compete for the coveted Golden Peacock at the 55^th International Film Festival 2024.

This year’s line-up features a rich mix of 12 international and 3 Indian films, each selected for its unique perspective, voice and artistry. Presenting the best of global and Indian cinema, each of these films offers a unique take on human values, culture and the art of storytelling.

This year, the esteemed Golden Peacock Jury, led by the acclaimed Indian filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, includes award-winning Singaporean director Anthony Chen, British-American producer Elizabeth Karlsen, Spanish producer Fran Borgia, and legendary Australian Film editor Jill Bilcock.

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Together, this jury will determine winners in categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Male), Best Actor (Female) and the Special Jury Prize. The winning film will take home a prize of ₹40 lakh along with one of the festival’s top honours.

This year’s line-up spans across themes and genres, with films that take us into uncharted territories, challenge perceptions, and amplify new voices.

Here’s a glimpse of the remarkable nominations:

Fear & Trembling (Iran)

Two of Iran’s most respected women filmmakers, Manijeh Hekmat and Faeze Azizkhani, present a poignant tale about Manzar, an older woman grappling with fear and loneliness in a rapidly changing world in their film ‘Fear and Trembling’.

This Iranian film is a World Premiere in this year’s IFFI. It reflects on personal transformation amid societal shifts and depicts the challenges faced by women in the modern-day Iran.

Gulizar (Turkey)

In her debut feature, Turkish writer-director Belkis Bayrak delves into the life of ‘Gulizar’, a young woman battling trauma and the societal expectations in her quest for independence.

Garnering attention across the festival circuit, the film has already premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 as well as the San Sebastián International Film Festival, 2024.

Holy Cow (France)

French filmmaker Louise Courvoisier’s debut feature ‘Holy Cow’ is a delightful coming-of-age comedy-drama that follows 18-year-old Totone, whose carefree life is turned upside down as he takes on responsibility for his younger sister. The film won the prestigious Youth Award in Cannes Film Festival, 2024.

This charming film set in the mountainous region of the Juca in the western French Alps, portrays the turbulence of growing up and the responsibilities of adulthood faced by the main protagonist.

I am Nevenka (Spain)

‘I Am Nevenka’ by Goya Award-winning director Iciar Bollaín is a bold story of a woman fighting society’s injustice in her own way. The film won the Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda Award, at the San Sebastian International Film Festival held in 2024.

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The film dramatizes the case of Nevenka Fernández, a member of the Ponferrada City Council, who in 2001 became the first woman in Spain to win a court case on sexual harassment against a high-ranking politician.

Inspired by true events, it chronicles the fight for justice and explores the larger societal and cultural implications of harassment and gender equality in Spain.

Panopticon (Georgia-USA)

In ‘Panopticon’, Georgian-American director George Sikharulidze’s gripping debut feature, a young Georgian teen confronts questions of identity, morality, and self as he navigates his life. The film won the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention, at Karlovy Vary 2024.

A poignant coming-of-age story, the film examines the challenges of growing up in a contemporary post-Soviet Georgian society.

Pierce (Singapore)

Former National Fencer and rising filmmaker of Singapore, Nelicia Low’s ‘Pierce’ received the Best Director Award at Karlovy Vary International Festival this year.

A psychological thriller, the film delves into the complexities of family and sibling rivalry. Set in the high-stakes world of competitive fencing, the film follows two brothers as they struggle to balance their ambition.

Red Path (Tunisia)

Prolific Tunisian theatre and cinema director and producer Lotfi Achour’s latest feature ‘Red Path’ tells the story of Achraf, a young shepherd, as he navigates trauma, tradition, and personal loss in a hauntingly beautiful landscape. The film premiered at the prestigious Locarno International Film Festival in 2024.

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