59th NATIONAL FILM AWARDS: Onir, Vidya Balan, Ra.One and more

Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

It was an exciting and momentous day for the films and crews nominated to the National Film Awards 2011. Our heartiest congratulations to all winners!

Best Hindi Film: I AM (Onir)
Best Feature Films (2 awards): Deool and Byari
Best Director: Gurvinder Singh for Anhe Ghorey Da Daan 
Best Bengali Film: Ranjana Ami Aar Ashbo Na
Best Marathi Film: Shaala
Best Dialogue: Deool
Best Actress: Vidya Balan, The Dirty Picture
Best Actor: Girish Kulkarni for Deool

Best Screenplay: Nitesh Tiwari, Vijay Maurya, Vikas Bahl and Rajesh Bajaj for Chillar Party
Best Editing: Praveen KL for Aranyaa Kandam
Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Azhagar Samiyin Kuthirai
Best Music Direction: Neel Dutt for Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na
Best Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya for I AM
Best Choreography: Bosco & Caeser for "Señorita" from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Best Special Effects: Ra.One
Best Children’s Film: Chillar Party
Best Child Artistes: Partho Gupte for Stanley Ka Dabba and Sanath Menon, Irrfan Khan, Rohan Grover, Chinmai Chandranshuh, Naman Jain, Vishesh Tiwari, Vedant Desai, Aarav Khanna, and Divji Handa for Chillar Party
Best Supporting Actress: Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi for Phijigee Mani
Best Supporting Actor: Appu Kutty for Azhagar Samiyin Kuthirai 
Special Jury Mention: Anjan Dutta for Ranjana Ami Aar Ashbo Na

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RIVER TO RIVER FF 2010 Screenings and Guests

One of the most complete and active Indian cinema festivals in Europe is the River to River Film Festival, held annually in the beautiful Italian city of Florence. The 2010 edition of the festival will take place from December 3 to 9 and will feature a retrospective dedicated to renowned director Satyajit Ray as well as the screening of all films who have been awarded during previous editions of the festival.

Films that we would like to highlight in the 2010 competition are:

* Iti Mrinalini, the festival's opening film. This is Aparna Sen's most recent opus, starring Aparna Sen and Konkona Sen Sharma.

* I am, by acclaimed director Onir, starring Nandita Das, Rahul Bose, Anurag Kashyap, Purab Kohli, Juhi Chawla. Onir and Rahul Bose will attend the screening.

* Peepli (Live), by Anusha Rizvi, one of 2010's most acclaimed films within and outside India. Q&A with actress Malaika Shenoy after the screening.
* India by Song, by Vijay Singh, a treat for the eyes and ears of Hindi cinema lovers as the film takes the audience through an overview of Indian history through its cinema.

* The Japanese Wfe, by Aparna Sen, who will attend the screening. Starring Raima Sen and Rahul Bose.

* Ishqiya, by Abhishek Chaubey, starring a wonderful cast: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi, a film not to be missed.

* Raajneeti, by Prakash Jha, starring established and promising actors such as Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Naseeruddin Shah in a family/political saga.

Visit the official River to River Florence Film Festival 2010 website for more information on the film programme and additional India themed activities and exhibitions.

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