Uma has been a founding member of IFFLA, always championing Indian independent cinema and emerging voices. It was fitting, during this 20 th anniversary edition of the film festival, a year which introduced new programs and initiatives, for a new award to be presented in honor of IFFLA’s beloved advisor in India, the legendary Uma da Cunha. An Honorable Mention went to Shankar’s Fairies, Irfana Majumdar’s “restrained and lyrical portrait of the unconditional bond between a young girl and the gentleman who cares for her family.” In the feature film category, Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s Once Upon a Time in Calcutta was cited for “its sprawling, operatic depiction of broken people desperate to connect, and its poetic mastery of cinematic craft” by the IFFLA jury.
We walk away from this year’s festival feeling energized and filled with gratitude.” We were overwhelmed to see everyone coming back, eager to reconnect with the community and the IFFLA family, watch films and celebrate our 20 th anniversary. In the months and weeks leading to the festival, we weren’t sure whether people would show up after a three-year break from an in-person festival.
The excitement felt by the reunion of so many of our filmmakers, patrons, and fans who were back to the theaters was something we all shared. IFFLA Executive Director Christina Marouda said, “This year’s edition of the film festival was wonderful in so many ways. The 2022 IFFLA announced the award winners for its 20 th annual edition, which featured a celebratory return to in-theater screenings and presentations. Photo: Loudspeaker MediaĪditya Vikram Sengupta’s Once Upon a Time in Calcutta won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film and debut filmmaker Anmol Sidhu’s Jaggi wins two awards, the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature and the Uma da Cunha Award for Best Feature Film Debut at the just concluded 2022 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). Once Upon A Time in Calcutta won for the Best Feature at the 22nd Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IIFLA).