Panaji, Dec 3 (IANS) Taiwanese film “I Can’t Live Without You” was awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock for best film at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at the festival’s closing ceremony here Thursday.
The award, a citation and a cash prize of Rs.40 lakh (Rs.4 million), was awarded to the film’s director Leon Dai.

The Silver Peacock award along with a Rs.15 lakh (Rs.1.5 million) cash prize for the best director, went to Ounie Leconte for her French-South Korean film “A Brand New Life”.

The Special Jury award went to the Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili for his film “The Other Bank”. The award was also accompanied by a cash prize of Rs.15 lakh (Rs.1.5 million).

The awards were given at a glittering ceremony in Panaji attended by Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting S. Jagathrakshkan, award winning actor Mammootty and Goa Governor S.S. Sidhu.

The three films were selected from a pool of 15 films, which were vying in the competition section, included two from India - Atanu Ghosh’s Bengali film “Angshumaner Chhobi” and Satish Manwar’s Marathi film “Gabricha Paus”.

The winners were selected by a five member jury comprising film makers Kenichi Okubu (Japan), Jean Michel Frodon (France), Viky Sarin (Canada), actress Sarika (India), with Brazilian film maker Joao Batista de Andrare as the president of the panel.

The 40th edition of the IFFI screened over 300 films from Nov 23 to Dec 3 from over 50 countries. The festival was inaugurated by legendary film actress Waheeda Rehman.