IFFK 2025: Japanese film Two Seasons, Two Strangers wins Suvarna Chakoram

Japanese filmmaker Sho Miyake's Two seasons, Two Strangers, an introspective drama on a scriptwiter's emotional upheavals, won the Golden Crow Pheasant (Suvarna Chakoram) award for the best film at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which concluded here on Friday. The award carries a cash prize of ₹20 lakh, memento, and certificate.

Argentine filmmakers Carina Piazza and Lucía Bracelis won the Silver Crow Pheasant (Rajatha Chakoram) award for best director for the film Before the Body.

Shadowbox directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi won the Silver Crow Pheasant (Rajatha Chakoram) award for the best debut director as well as the Federation of Film Societies of India’s (FFSI) K.R. Mohanan Award for the best debut director from India.

The Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award for the best Asian film in competition went to Cinema Jazireh directed by Gozde Kural.

Thanthapperu directed by Unnikrishnan Avala won the jury prize in the international competition, the audience poll award, and the NETPAC Award for the best Malayalam film. The last award was shared with Khidki Gaav directed by Sanju Surendran. Khidki Gaav also won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award for the best film in the international competition.

The FIPRESCI award for the best Malayalam film of a debut director went to Fazil Razak for Moham. Tillotama Shome won a special jury mention for her performance in Shadowbox. The special jury mention for technical excellence went to Black Rabbit, directed by Shahram Mokri.

Closing ceremony

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the awards at the closing ceremony of the festival. Mr.Vijayan also presented the IFFK's Lifetime achievement award his year to African filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako.

Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, jury chairperson who is facing a prison sentence in Iran for his creative endeavours, was also felicitated at the function. Filmmaker Syed Akhtar Mirza was honoured to mark his completion of 50 years in cinema.

"No place in India that has such a tremendous history of cinema as Kerala. When this State honours me, it means a lot to me," he said.