3rd Jagran Film Festival encourages wider reach of Indian cinema

It was an evening of opportunity for independent filmmakers on Sunday, September 30 at the 3^rd edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), held in New Delhi. Dedicated to showcasing films that are not only the antithesis of the large-scale studio budgets but also challenge conventional genre norms, the JFF aims to “bridge the gap between good quality cinema and its intended audience,” increasing the reach of parallel films to foster a greater appreciation for them throughout the country.

This year’s festival featured 70 films across 12 Indian towns, the screenings garnished with Cinema Appreciation workshops, group discussions, and Q&A sessions with film casts and crews. The event culminated with a presentation of awards, selected by mentors and jury panels consisting of respected personalities in Indian cinema such as actors Anil Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap, and Firoze Abbas Khan.

List of Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Shyam Benegal

Best Debut Director: Dr. Sarfaraz Alam for Chhoker Pani

Best Actor: Irfan Khan for Paan Singh Tomer

Best Actress: Vidya Balan for Kahaani

Best Film: Das Kapital

Best Script: Sanjay Chauhan for Paan Singh Tomer

Best Music: AR Rahman for Rockstar

Best Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia for Paan Singh Tomer 

JFF 2012 saw a successful turnout of over 20,000 audience members and over 40 film personalities in attendance.