Kolkata, June 03: Mathia, a film potraying the widely prevalent practice of witch-hunting in the tribal society of Tripura, has earned the distinction of being the first film in Kokborok to bag an International Award.
Mathia was awarded the best feature film at the coveted polish International Film Festival of Niepokalanow held in Warsaw from May 19 to 25.
The Kokborok film, critically acclaimed for its crusade against age old superstitious beliefs of the tribal society, was screened on May 21 at the festival honouring value-based films from across the world, Director Joseph Pulinthanath told a news agency here. Mathia competed with 52 entries including the polish entry 'Kossak', Australian film 'From Despair to Hope' and a host of films from Australia, Belarus, Cyprus, Jordan, Canada, Lebaonon, Makao, Russia, Italy and USA.
A love story of two social outcasts, of which the female lead is branded as a witch, Mathia was shot on location in some of the most remote villages in the Bbormura hill range of Tripura.

Kolkata-based cinematographer Sunil Lucas said the award was a motivation for further productions from the region.

The festival authorities would send the award consisting a citation and a statuette through the Indian Embassy in Poland as none of the film's unit members could be present at the festival. Bureau Report