The 9th NEZ International Film Festival wrapped off with a lavish closing ceremony in Kolkata.

Acclaimed Director Goutam Ghosh was honored with the Golden Director’s Award, the NIFF Icon Award was bestowed on National Award-winning actor Rituparna Sengupta and Anjan Bose while Sohini Dasgupta was honored with the NIFF Infinite Vistas Award.

This festival happened over three days in Kolkata.

Now in its ninth year, the NEZ International Film Festival presented independent films from all over the world, with an emphasis on European directors.

The NEZ International Film Festival has grown to be a well-known venue for independent film. It has been well-liked by European filmmakers, and Vienna, Austria, is home to a sister festival.

NEZ International Film Festival creator Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar (SRS) is extending the festival’s reach with planned editions in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, America, and Italy. Furthermore, SRS is introducing the OTT portal Magic Room, which offers a wide variety of materials, and the NEZ Magic Lantern Film Festival.

The festival’s highlight was the premiere of the short film Autumn Narcissus, featuring acclaimed Italian Actress Paola Bonacina as the lead protagonist. Paola is also starring in the Bengali/Italian dual-language feature film Grasaan/Grief of the Sun, produced in collaboration with famous Italian actor/director Roger Fratter.

A grand celebration of independent films indeed.

Priyanka Dutta