IFFI 2025: Vietnamese film ‘Skin of Youth’ bags Best Feature; Santosh Davakahar wins Best Director for Marathi film ‘Gondhal’

PANJIM(Goa): The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded with the Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair’s ‘Skin of Youth’ taking home the Golden Peacock for Best Feature Film in the international competition.

According to Variety, the film follows the turbulent romance between San, a transgender sex worker seeking gender-affirming surgery, and Nam, an underground cage fighter striving to support his son.

The best director prize went to Indian director Santosh Davakahar for the Marathi thriller ‘Gondhal’. Whereas filmmaker Karan Singh Tyagi bagged the Best Debut Director award for the Indian Feature Film ‘Kesari 2’ at IFFI 2025.

Ubeimar Rios won the Silver Peacock for best actor (male) for his role in the Colombian film ‘A Poet’ (Un Poeta), which was directed by Simon Mesa Soto. While the Silver Peacock for best actor (female) was awarded to Jara Sofija Ostan for the Slovenian film ‘Little Trouble Girls.’

Each acting award was accompanied by a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, reported Variety.

The Norwegian film ‘Safe House’, directed by Eirik Svensson, has been awarded the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2025) for its outstanding contribution to cinema that promotes peace, non-violence, and intercultural dialogue, according to the release by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Set over 15 intense hours inside a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Bangui during the 2013 civil war in the Central African Republic, ‘Safe House’ is a gripping, humane drama inspired by true events.

The film explores the ethics of care, courage, and responsibility as a team of aid workers grapples with impossible choices in a war zone.

Through real-time storytelling, the film highlighted the resilience of the human spirit and the moral dilemmas faced by those striving to uphold humanity amid chaos, as per the press release.

The award was received by Manouj Kadaamh, representative of ICFT-UNESCO Paris, on behalf of the film’s director Eirik Svensson and presented by MD, NFDC, Prakash Magdum.

Bandish Bandits Season 2 secured the Best Web Series (OTT) award at IFFI 2025. Directed by Anand Tiwari, the acclaimed Hindi series is created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari.

According to the press release, the jury unanimously selected the series from a strong shortlist, commending it for “making arts and music accessible to all.”

Creators of the show, Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, received the award from Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs.

IFFI Winners Full List 2025

Best Film: ‘Skin of Youth’ directed by Ash Mayfair
Best Director: Santosh Davakahar for Marathi thriller ‘Gondhal’

Best Actor (Male): Ubeimar Rios (A Poet)

Best Actor (Female): Jara Sofija Ostan (Little Trouble Girls)
Best Web Series (OTT): Bandish Bandits 2

Special Jury Award: Director Akinola Davies Jr. (My Father’s Shadow)
ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal: Safe House
With its closing ceremony, the 56th edition of IFFI wrapped up nine days of screenings, discussions, celebrations and premieres. The closing ceremony held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa also honoured superstar Rajinikanth for completing 50 years in Indian cinema. (ANI)