Amartya Bhattacharyya’s Adieu Godard wins big at Sipontum Arthouse International Film Festival

The Odia feature film Adieu Godard won three awards at the recently concluded Sipontum Arthouse International Film Festival (SAIFF) in Italy. Written and helmed by National award winner Amartya Bhattacharyya and produced under the banner Swastik Arthouse, the film won the filmmaker the Best Director and Best Screenplay awards. The lead actor Choudhury Bikash Das bagged the Best Actor award.

SAIFF is an independent arthouse festival, which features films that have no commercial purpose. The festival's stated aim is to become a reference point for all authors who do not accept compromises. With monthly screenings, the festival organizes an evening of awards in which the film of the year is chosen.

Reacting to the news, Choudhury Bikash Das, expressed his happiness, saying, "This is wonderful news and I am very happy for the award. The film is an honest attempt at bringing something special to the audience and am glad that it is getting due recognition. Thanks to Amartya, the entire team of Adieu Godard and the festival team for this special moment."

Sharing his thoughts, Bhattacharyya said, "More than winning Best Director and Best Screenplay, I'm particularly happy that Choudhury Bikash Das has won Best Actor. This international recognition was long due for a talent of his calibre. I think all of us who make Odia films have somehow failed to do justice to some outstanding talents that Odisha has. I'm sure this recognition is just the beginning. And of course, three awards for Adieu Godard from an Italian festival definitely means a wonderful start to the new year. I congratulate each and every talent who has been a part of this film."

Adieu Godard has also been picked as one of the top twenty films of world cinema by filmmaker, festival director and critic Arshad Khan.