Chennai, India — The Chennai International Film Festival wrapped up its 22nd edition on December 19, heralding a week of cinematic celebration that attracted a record number of over 6,000 delegates. The event spotlighted an array of 123 films from 50 different countries, melding local talent with global perspectives.
Throughout the festival, attendees were treated to more than just film screenings. An assortment of Master Classes and talks provided platforms for budding filmmakers to learn directly from industry veterans. These sessions offered insights into various aspects of filmmaking, from direction to production design.
Festival director AVM K Shanmugam highlighted the unprecedented attendance at this year’s festival, suggesting a growing interest and support for cinematic arts within the region. The festival’s agenda also featured notable speeches focused on political and social issues by influential filmmakers Pa Ranjith and Mari Selvaraj.
On the final night, the festival’s awards ceremony turned the spotlight on exceptional talent in both regional and international cinema categories. The film “Amaran” emerged as a major winner, securing awards for Best Feature Film, Best Actor (Female) for Sai Pallavi, and Best Cinematographer for CH Sai. The Best Actor (Male) award in the regional category went to Vijay Sethupathi for his role in “Maharaja.”
Acceptance speeches were filled with gratitude and reflection. Vijay Sethupathi expressed appreciation for the continual recognition of his work at CIFF, while Sai Pallavi shared her overwhelming gratitude for the accolades “Amaran” received.
Additionally, the festival honored Arvind Swamy with the Favourite Actor award for his role in “Meiyazhagan.” Pari Elavazhagan was celebrated with the Special Jury Award for Best Director for his film “Jama,” and another Special Jury Award for Best Director was given to Pa Ranjith for “Thangaalan.”
Other highlights included awards for the Best Entertainment Film, which was won by “Vettaiyan,” and the Best Social Issue Film, awarded to “Nandhan.” Among the international accolades, “In the Arms of the Tree” from Iran was recognized as the Best World Feature Film.
The festival also made room to celebrate achievements in screenwriting and performance in supporting roles, with Nithilan Saminathan garnering the Best Writer award for “Maharaja” and both Attakathi Dinesh and Dushara Vijayan receiving Best Supporting Actor awards.
Looking ahead, organizers have already scheduled the 23rd edition of the Chennai International Film Festival to run from December 11 to 18, 2025, promising yet another opportunity to celebrate and explore the depth and diversity of global cinema.
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