Although he was ‘unable to make it’, acclaimed Bollywood iconic actor-turned-story-dialogues-screen-play writer Salim Khan who was honoured (in absentia) with the 49th IFFI (film-fest) Life Time contribution to Indian Cinema, at their glitzy-glam closing ceremony in Goa, diligently conveyed his message thru his son Arbaaz Khan.
The debonair Arbaaz (accompanied at the IFFI event by his ‘good friend’ gorgeous Italian model Georgia Andriani) read out his dad’s text message on stage. While thanking the concerned people and cities of Indore and Mumbai, Salim-saab made it a point to also ‘thank his talented writing-partner Javed Akhtar for his contribution towards his success’.
Amidst fierce competition, the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film was bagged by 'Donbass' directed by Sergei Loznitsa while actors Chemban Vinod Jose (‘Ee. Ma. Yau.’) and Anastasiia Pustovit (‘When The Trees Fall’) won the Silver Peacock Award for their respective sterling performances. Incidentally, next year the IFFI would be completing 50 years. Both honourable Ministers of Goa, K J Alphons and Vijai Sardesai promised a better, bigger and world-class ‘Golden Jubilee’ IFFI in 2019.
The closure finale event was attended by a large number of foreign delegates as well as Bollywood celebs including Anil Kapoor, Kabir Bedi and director Rahul Rawail. The scene-stealers were stunning actresses Rakul Preet, event co-anchor Sophie Chaudry and Diana Penty who wore an eye-catching glimmering outfit.