charlestown races and slots IFFI 2024: Lithuanian Film Toxic Wins Golden Peacock Award; Bogdan Muresanu Awarded Best Director
Toxic receives Best Film award, Bogdan Muresanu awarded with Best Director at IFFI 2024 Photo: X, IMDb Toxic receives Best Film award, Bogdan Muresanu awarded with Best Director at IFFI 2024 Photo: X, IMDb 
During the closing ceremony of the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), held at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji, Goa, the Best Film award was presented to the Lithuanian film Toxic, directed by Saulė Bliuvaitė.
Its lead actors- debutant Vesta Matulyte and Ieva Rupeikaitė were jointly given the Best Actor (Female) award for their “extraordinary performances” and “pushing themselves to their physical and emotional limits” in creating their characters- Marija and Kristina. Toxic delves into the “adolescence and the harsh realities” of growing up in an economically deprived society. Saulė Bliuvaitė, a Lithuanian filmmaker and screenwriter made his debut with the film.
View this post on Instagram Jury Chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker, Anthony Chen, Elizabeth Karlsen, Fran Borgia, and Jill Bilcock were part of the jury for the International Competition.
Renowned Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce was honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in cinema.
The Best Director award went to Bogdan Muresanu for the Romanian film The New Year That Never Came. The Best Actor (Male) award was presented to Clément Faveau for his performance in Holy Cow (France). Its director Louise Courvoisier bagged the Special Jury Award. Actor Adam Bessa received a Special Mention for the film Who Do I Belong To?
Sarah Friedland was awarded Best Debut Feature Film Director for her debut Familiar Touch. Crossing, helmed by Levan Akin received the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal.
Marathi-language Lampan won the Best OTT Web Series Award and Navjyot Bandiwadekar won Best Debut Director of Indian Feature Film for his Marathi film Gharat Ganpati.
View this post on Instagram The closing ceremony concluded with the Slovakian film Dry Seasoncharlestown races and slots, directed by Bohdan Sláma. The 55th edition of IFFI Goa was graced by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Vikrant Massey, Pratik Gandhi and Rashmika Mandanna among others.