NIEPOKALAOW (Warsaw) C.M. Paul – The only first prize an Indian film won in any category was 25 min Don Bosco Flash Film by director of DB IMAGE Kochi Fr Jiji Kalavanal. He won the first prize consisting of a statuette and certificate in the multimedia category at the concluding ceremony of 26th International Catholic Film Festival held at Niepokalanow, 4th June.

Other films by Indian directors which received special Jury mention in various categories included a documentary entitled “Pool of Siloam” (25 min) by Indian director Fr. Biju Michael SDB based in Israel.

Another film which got Jury mention included a 10 minute documentary from Nairobi Kenya, by Indian Salesian Fr Sebastian Koladiyil.Of the twelve member International Jury, nine members present voted unanimously for most of the selections.
The festival is jointly organized by the Catholic Film Association of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe and Franciscan Monastery at Niepokalanów.

Earlier at the Award ceremony, Board member of “100 Cities for Peace” Salesian Fr C.M. Paul from Kolkata handed over the peace promoter award to Niepokalanow Franciscan Monastery prior Fr Stanislaw Pietka, and the president of the Catholic Film Association of Poland Ms. Daunta Stachyra, on behalf of Mr Pablo Marcet, “Pax Urbis” coordinator based in Barcelona, Spain.