150 films from 40 countries at 10th Osian's Cinefan from July 10

New Delhi, Jun 22 (UNI) Over 150 feature and non-feature films from around 40 countries will be screened at the tenth edition of the Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, to be held in the capital from July 10.

The festival which has over the years emerged as the largest festival of its kind in the world, will this year have several new features this year.

In addition to the annual award for writing, the Festival will this year bestow an additional award: the Osian's Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Cinema, which is being given this year to renowned filmmaker Mrinal Sen The writer's award, renamed the Aruna Vasudev Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing on Cinema will be conferred on Jose "Pete" F Lacaba.

One of India's most acclaimed filmmakers and a pioneer of the alternative cinema movement, Mrinal Sen in a prolific career spanning almost five decades has directed feature films, short films and documentaries of varying content and cine-aesthetics, his works being permeated by his engagement with social issues and his acute political awareness, always exhibited a deep analytical mind and humanist ideology.

This will be the latest in the line of national and International accolades for Mrinal Sen, the recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest distinction given to an Indian filmmaker by the Indian Government. Sen has also been honoured with awards at numerous international film festivals in India and abroad.

Jose F Lacaba (a k a Pete), poet, journalist, editor, translator, and screenwriter, is a bilingual writer who writes in both English and Filipino. He is the author of six poetry collections in Filipino and a collection of journalistic reportage in English, Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage. He is also the editor of a number of books, including The Films of ASEAN and Emmanuel Lacaba's Salvaged Poems and Salvaged Prose.

He has written the screenplays of award-winning feature films that have been shown at various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice and Toronto. His screenplay credits include Jaguar, Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim, Orapronobis, Sister Stella L., Eskapo, Segurista and Rizal sa Dapitan.

Pete Lacaba is also the recipient of the Centennial Honors for the Arts for his significant contributions to culture and the arts in the twentieth century.

This year Osian's-Cinefan has announced over Rs One Crore (approximately 250, 000 dollars) as Prize Money for its Competition Sections and Lifetime Achievement Awards. The winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented Rs 800,000 (approximately 20,000 dollars) each.

The Best Films in the Asian-Arab and Indian Competition sections will be awarded Rs two million each (50,000 dollars) and the Best Director in each section will win Rs 800,000 (20,000 dollars). The Special Jury Award and the Best Actor and Actress will each take away Rs 200,000 (5000 dollars). The Best First Feature will receive Rs 200,000 (approx 5000 dollars) in addition to a guaranteed support of Rs 800,000 (approx 20,000 dollars) from fFOOD: The Film Fund - Osian's Originating Development, created by Osian's, for the next feature film.

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