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Controversial Indian Film Wins Best Feature at Commonwealth Film Festival

The 3rd Commonwealth Film Festival closed last week (Sun 9 May) with the UK Premiere of the star-studded Indian epic, Maqbool, complete with guest appearances from lead actor Irfan Khan and director Vishal Bhardwaj.

This sumptuous Indian gangster tale, which relocated Macbeth to the Mumbai underworld, preceded a special presentation of the festival’s Audience Awards for the categories of Best Feature, Best Documentary and Best Short.

The awards were presented by Mario Dubois, Head of Programming for BBC North, at the AMC Great Northern. Mr Dubois commended the festival’s remarkable contribution to the culture of the city and its promotion of diverse, inclusive and intelligent filmmaking, both locally and internationally.

Acclaimed filmmaker Partho Sen Gupta was also present to receive the BBC Audience Award for Best Feature Film. Partho Sen Gupta had flown to Manchester on his way to Cannes to present the UK premiere of his poignant film 'Let The Wind Blow' (Hava Aney Dey). The film had its International Premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival this year. Recently it was awarded a special mention of the jury at the 28th Hong Kong International Film Festival, and Sen Gupta has been selected as one of 40 new directors to watch at Cannes.

This moving and powerful drama takes us on a journey to the near future. A future where India’s working-class youth can choose between dreaming of unattainable riches (promised by the West) or unattainable peace (denied to them by the region’s governments), a future hurtling towards them faster than a speeding bullet. For more info about the film, visit www.letthewindblow.com.

The BBC Audience Award for Best Documentary went to Rolling in 'La Habana' by Salford based filmmakers Ngozi ‘Goz’ Ugochukwu and Marc Rovira.

Rolling in ‘La Habana’ follows Goz and her wheelchair around a very different Cuba from the country presented to us by the usual clichés. Goz’s challenging and insightful adventure reflects a true portrait of both Cuba and the character behind the camera.

Daniel Askill was the winner of the Audience Award for Best Short Film for We Have Decided Not To Die. Though the director was not able to attend the Festival (he is currently shooting in Sydney), he is no stranger to Comfest, having attended our Programme Launch in London in March.

The narrative of this breathtaking experimental film charts three modern day journeys of transcendence. The film recently won the Audience Award at the world's largest international short film festival in Clermont Ferrand, France. You can watch the film online at www.collider.com.au.

Earlier in the week, Comfest’s regional film showcase, North by North West, culminated in the The Reel North Audience Award for Best Short Film Made in the North West being given to Dave Hartil and Nigel Moore for Storms in a Teacup.

Well over 1000 votes were counted overall for this year’s awards.