by Satinder Mohan
The 30th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held at Hyderabad from 10 to 20 January 1999 was the first IFFI to host the first-ever “Lifetime achievement award” presentation in India. The first lifetime Achievement award was given to Bernardo Bertolucci, Italian director.
Hyderabad has the honor of hosting two international film festivals in the history of Filmotsavs and IFFIs. The first international film festival to be held in Hyderabad was “Filmotsav 86” which was held in the year 1986 from 3 to 17th Jan 86.
At that time Fimotsavs / IFFIs were held for 15 days, unlike 9 days today. The “Press and Delegate shows “were exclusively held for Press/ Media and the accredited delegates only. Six theaters were chosen in various locations of the city where any film lover/ film buff could buy tickets and enjoy the International films.
The screenings which were held in the theatres were called “Public Screenings”. Firstly 6 films were shown to the” press and delegates “in the Press and Delegate shows and the same 6 films were screened next day in various 6 theatres for viewing by the public.
At that time, the delegate status was accredited by the Ministry of I&B (Directorate of film Festivals) to the deserving and well known film personalities, like film stars, actors, directors, Cinematographers, editors, script writers, film academicians, film historians and Film Society organisers etc.
The selection used to be very tough. However, there was no delegate fee, but very difficult to get the accreditation. Filmotsav 86 is best known for its hospitality. Every day there used to be, free good lunch which was served to the Press and delegates just outside Rama Krishna Theatre. As soon as the press and delegates came out of the noon show the lunch was already laid down in the courtyard. I have the honour to be the delegate of filmotsav 86 and enjoy the delicious lunch. In the history of IFFIs/ Filmotsavs, no other IFFI/Filmotav except 23rd IFFI held in Banglore in 1992, free lunch was provided to the press and delegates. Besides many gifts and souvenirs were given to the Press and delegates by the state government. It was a great honor to be the delegate of Filmotsav 86.
The” Lifetime Achievement Award”, was instituted by Govt. of India/ Ministry of I&B for the outstanding contribution to the world Cinema in 1999. The first ever Lifetime Achievement award was conferred upon legendary Italian film maestro, Director and script writer, Bernardo Bertolucci on 15th Jan 1999 in a glittering function held at 5 pm at Ramakrishna Theatre Hyderabad during 30th IFFI 99. This lifetime Achievement award was presented by late Promod Mahajan, the then Union Minister of I&B to Bernardo Bertolucci.
Speaking on the occasion, Bertolucci, said,” May be through cinema you can analyse the society and try to find different meaning to the values of the society. He recalled that he was moved by three films including Indian film maestro Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali”. He moved to filmmaking from his poetic self in sixties. Bertolucci confessed that he stole ideas from” Pather Panchali”.
Bertolucci gave up his studies because of his inclination towards cinema. He became an assistant to legendary Italian filmmaker Pasolini when he was still a student of the Rome University.
Bertolucci wrote poems from a very early age and was never keen to have very bright career. When Pasolini offered him to direct a film, he was barely 22. But that film, “The Grim Reaper “was admired in the Venice Film Festival and he never looked back.
P G Mankad, then secretary at Ministry of I&B said, “Bertolucci created a powerful and rich body of cinematic work, transcending the barrier of language geography and cultural differences. He further said, “It is a matter of great pleasure for the Govt. of India to confer the first Lifetime Achievement award on Bertolucci at a time when the millennium draws to a close.”
Chandrababu Naidu, who was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh then, presented a memento to Bertolucci and shawls to him and Clair Peploe Bertolucci. The Award ceremony was followed by the screening of Bertolucci’s latest film,” Besieged”.
I had the honor to witness the above felicitation function in “Ramakrishna Theatre”, which was the main venue for press and delegates. It was really a thrilling and exciting experience to see him receiving the award with standing ovation amongst tremendous clapping. It was really very exciting to listen to the brief speech given by the great cine personality of the world after receiving the Award.
I also had the honour to briefly interact with first time lifetime achievement award winner in India at Hyderabad after the function. The name of the LTA award was changed to” Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement “award due to the centenary year of Satyajit Ray, the doyen of Indian cinema in 2021 .
It is for the first time that this award was conferred upon two internationally acclaimed foreign personalities; Istavan Szabo and Martin Scorsese .Istavan Szabo is one of the internationally acclaimed Hungarian film directors, script writer, actor and opera director.
Martin Scorsese is one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential directors in film Industry. The fourteenth LTA awards were given during 52nd IFFI held at Goa from 20 to 28th Nov 2021.
LTAA carries a certificate, Silver Peacock, Shawl, Scroll and a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh/20,000 USD. This prestigious award is conferred upon a master filmmaker for his/her outstanding contribution to the world cinema. Every year, IFFI invites filmmakers of International repute for this award.
I have the privilege of participating in all the Lifetime Achievement Award functions right from the first Award function in Hyderabad in 1999 till the last Award function held in IFFI 2024 at Goa. The last Satyajit Ray lifetime Achievement Award was given to Australian Film and Television director, Phillip Noyce.
(The writer is a retired Additional Director General from Ministry of Defence; and he has attended 42 editions of IFFI as a delegate, where the first IFFI attended by him was the 9th edition of IFFI and held at Siri Fort, New Delhi. He has been a Jury member of Indian Panorama, feature film Jury at the 47th IFFI at Goa in 2016 and again in IFFI 2020 held in 2021)
