Matir Moina wins acclamation of Pakistani audience

Tareque and Catherine Masud receiving the award for the best film for their Matir Moina from renowned Pakistani actor Nadeem. The film also won awards for best music and cinematography

Renowned Pakistani actor Nadeem handed over the award to Tareque and Catherine Masud at the closing ceremony of the festival on December 21. Besides this one, Matir Moina also won awards for the best music and cinematography.

Matir Moina won the award over stiff competition in the festival, which is the only film festival in Pakistan. Over 80 films were presented in this year's programme, including Sabiha Sumar's Khamosh Pani which took top honours at the Locarno Film Festival, British director Michael Winterbottom's acclaimed In This World, American filmmaker Michael Moore's Cannes-award winning Bowling for Columbine, as well as a strong selection of Indian films.

The jury of the festival committee included Hameed Haroon, publisher of the Dawn group, and Talat Aslam, editor of The News among others.

The awards have a special significance, for the film has references to the Bangali nationalist movement against the then Pakistani regime and the atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army in 1971.

In his acceptance speech director Tareque Masud said, 'The prize is a recognition of the rich culture of Bangladesh and the just struggle of the Bangladeshi people for independence.'