Daily Updates

The 30th IFFK honoured Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his enduring contribution to world cinema. Presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the accolade carries a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, along with a statuette and citation.

Accepting the honour, Sissako described it as a defining moment in his life, situating the recognition within his long and personal association with Kerala. He recalled being introduced to the state through cinema by the late filmmaker Shaji N. Karun, whom he described as a guiding presence and a lifelong companion in his cinematic journey.

Reflecting on the broader cultural ties between the two regions, Sissako spoke of the deep historical and civilisational connections linking India and Africa. Both, he noted, remain expansive cultural spaces shaped by shared memories, struggles and artistic traditions—an affinity that continues to find expression through cinema.