New Delhi, Oct 19: Iranian filmmaker Samira Makhmalbaf was today awarded the Golden Peacock for his film "at five in the afternoon" at the 34th International Film Festival of India. The best film award comprised Rs five lakh which the director donated to NGOs working in India for the promotion of human rights, specially the rights of women and children.

The special jury silver peacock award went to Indian director Shubhadra Chaudhury for his film "Prohor."

Israeli filmmaker Ra'anan Alexandrovich bagged the Silver Peacock for the most promising director for "James' Journey to Jerusalem." The films were selected from eleven entries for the Asian Competition Section, for which the jury comprised Hugarian director Istvan Gaal, Chinese director Xiaolian Peng, Indian director Girish Kasaravalli, noted columnist Gautaman Bhaskaran and was headed by legendary Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi.

Makhmalbaf's film was selected for its powerful cinematic style and message of hope in a dramatic and desperate situation. The director, who could not attend the function, informed through her message that she has decided to donate the entire award amount of Rs five lakh to NGOs working in the area of human rights and women's empowerment.

Accepting his award for his "paradoxical vision of basic values lost in a consumerist world", Alexandrowicz said he was amazed by the cinema audience India has, "which we don't have in our countries". Bureau Report