TEAFF 22: The awards went to…

The Special Film Writing Award, instituted in memory of Late Sudhir Nandgaonkar, was presented this year to journalist-turned renowned film scholar and curator, Meenakshi Shedde. Expressing her gratitude, Meenakshi Shedde said, “I am truly thankful for receiving this award in the memory of late Sudhir Nandgaonkar. He played a significant role in my writing journey, and it gives me immense joy to receive an award bearing his name.”

The competition section of this year’s festival featured films by young, emerging directors with fresh narrative styles. The results of the competition were announced during the ceremony. In the Indian Cinema category, Ballad to the Winds was adjudged Best Film. The Best Director award went to Monjul Baruah for Romantic Affairs. Manoj Sharma (Body) won Best Actor, while Kasvi Sonkorison (Romantic Affairs) won Best Actress.

Special Jury Awards were presented to director Rudrajit Roy (Pinjar – The Cage), actor Boloram Das (Romantic Affairs), debut director Dr. Omkar Bhatkar (The Weight of Longing), and actress Gaumaya Gurung (Shape of Momo).

On the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dadasaheb Phalke, a new award for Best Directorial Debut was instituted this year, which was won by Tribeni Rai for Shape of Momo.

In the Contemporary Marathi Cinema category, Sabar Bonda won the Best Film award, while Rohan Kanawade received Best Director for the same film. Santosh Davakhar, director of Gondhal, also shared the Best Director honor. Bhushan Manoj and Suraj Suman won Best Actor for Sabar Bonda. The Best Actress award was jointly awarded to Renuka Shahane (Uttar) and Bhakti Ghogre (Giran). Special Jury Awards went to director Ravba Gajmal (Sangla), Manoj Naik-Satam for story (Gaman), and child artist Devdatt Ghone (Sohala).

I will offer no comments on the awards that went to the makers or cast of Ballad to the Winds, Body, Sabar Bond, Giran, Gaman and Sohala, simply because I missed these films. What a tremendous loss! Monjul Baruah has a very done a good job helming Romantic Affairs, but a couple of other films had even better direction, in my humble opinion. Kasvi Sonkorison would have failed to make it to my list of awardees, though I might concur on the choice of Boloram Das. Pinjar deserved some award, so the Special Jury Award is in order. The other Special Jury Award to Omkar Bhatkar fillip to experimentation and path-breaking, though the film is strictly for niche audiences. Not having seen all the entries under the Best Debut Director, I guess the Jury found Tribeni Ray’s wielding of the megaphone the best, thogh I would hesitate to call it great direction.

Gondhal could not go awardless, and Santosh Davakhar rightfully won the Best Director Award, shared with Rohan Kanawade. Two actors from Sabar Bond wowed the Jury with their performances. Likewise, two actresses left their mark on the minds of the Jury, but was Bhakti Ghogre as good as Renuka Shahane? Yes, felt the Jury. What a pity that I missed the films that bagged as many as three Special Jury Awards: Sangla, Gaman and Sohala. This was largely due to the bifurctaion of the list into films to be screened at the Mini-Theatre ain Prabhadevi and films to be screend at Cinepolis, in Thane.

Here is my merit list, in descending order of star ratings, of the films I saw at the Third Eye Asian Film Festival 22, 2026.

Mr. Manickam: *** ½

Romantic Affairs: *** ½

Deal at the Border: *** ½

Gondhal: *** ½

Secret film 1: *** 1/2 

Pinjar/The Cage: ***

Pangku: ***

Uttar: ***

Oslo: ***

Secret film 2: ***

Fatherless: **

About My Mom: ** ½

Malika: ** ½

Pappa Sanga Kunache: ** ½

Maya Satya Bhram: ** ½

The Weight of Longing/Iktsuarpok: ** ½

Mayasabha: **

Shape of Momo: **

Kathakar Ki Diary: * ½

Of the 19 films above, as many as five rated *** ½.

And only 3 were major disappointments.

By my standard yardstick, any festival, where I can evaluate 21% or more films in the *** ½ or more rating category, is a very rewarding one.

This one scored a whopping 26%.

My only major disagreement with the decisions of the Jury is The Shape of Momo, wherein the portrayal of the protagonist was far from outstanding.

Now for the ones I missed or walked out of.

Kimidin: Saw only the climax. Waiting to watch fully, as and when Mr. Nilesh Navalakha, the producer-director, sends me the link he promised me he would.

And lastly, there are two titles below.

Franz: Walked-out

Tiger: Walked-out

Need I say anything more?

TEAFF 22 was a fulfilling festival. I am booking 09-15 January 2027, for TEAFF 23. So, should you.