Pan Nalin’s Chhello Show wins best film at Valladolid International Film Festival

Pan Nalin's Gujarati film Chhello Show, aka Last Film Show, won the Golden Spike at the 66th Valladolid International Film Festival.

The top prize for the best film had been previously awarded to Akira Kurosawa, Federico Fellini, François Truffaut, Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles, the Indian filmmaker announced on Instagram.

The Gujarati-language film, which is based on Pan’s own life, follows a young boy, Samay, who falls in love with the medium of cinema after he watches his first film in a theatre. Chhello Show, a co-production between India and France, was part of the festival’s official selections.

Heart of Chhello Show is the jugaadu spirit, says filmmaker Pan Nalin

The feature film was premiered at the Tribeca Festival this June and took home the second prize at the festival’s Audience Awards. The North American rights for the film have been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Seminci, as the festival is also known, is one of Spain's largest and oldest festivals. The festival was held from 23 to 30 October. Neus Ballús's Spanish film Sis Dies Corrents (Odd-Job Men) won the Silver Spike as well as the Audience Award.