News : The top prize at the Sydney Film Festival has been won by "The Mother of all Lies," a remarkable achievement

 The top prize at the Sydney Film Festival has been won by "The Mother of all Lies," a remarkableachievement.

"The Mother of all Lies," a docu-drama film exploring the secrets of Morocco's 1981 Bread Riots, was announced as the winner of the best picture award at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday. The jury, led by Anurag Kashyap, described the film directed by Asmae El Moudir as "audacious, cutting-edge, and courageous." The award ceremony took place at the State Theatre, preceding the Australian premiere of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." The film, which utilizes doll-like figurines, recently premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, where it received the best director prize. Kashyap, along with the jury consisting of Mia Wasikowska, Dorothee Wenner, Larissa Behrendt, and Visakesa Chandrasekaram, commended the film for its intricate reconstruction of history across three distinct levels, combining scarce public materials with personal family memories.

The Sydney Film Festival also featured the largest prize pool in its history. Australian filmmakers Derik Lynch and Matthew Thorne were jointly awarded the Documentary Australia Award's $20,000 cash prize for their film "Marungka Tjalatjunu" (also known as "Dipped in Black"). The documentary follows Lynch, a Yankunytjatjara artist, on a nostalgic journey back to his childhood home (Aputula), delving into his memories along the way.

Another noteworthy winner was Indian director Sarvnik Kaur, who received the A$40,000 Sustainable Future Award, the world's largest environmental film prize, for her documentary "Against the Tide." The film intimately explores the impact of environmental changes on two fishermen from Mumbai's indigenous Koli community.

The festival also recognized outstanding short films with several awards. The AFTRS Craft Award for best practitioner, accompanied by a A$7,000 cash prize, went to screenwriters Kalu Oji, Faro Musodza, and Makwaya Masudi for their work on "What's In a Name?" The inaugural Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award, also offering a A$7,000 cash prize, was presented to Robyn Liu, the lead actor in "The Dancing Girl and the Balloon Man."

Additional accolades included the A$5,000 Yoram Gross Animation Award for the film "Teacups," directed by Alec Green and Finbar Watson; the A$7,000 Dendy Live Action Short Award for "The Dancing Girl and the Balloon Man," directed by David Ma; and the A$7,000 Rouben Mamoulian Award for best director, presented to Sophie Somerville for "Linda 4 Eva."

Reflecting on the success of this year's festival, Sydney Film Festival CEO Frances Wallace expressed delight at the overwhelming response from film enthusiasts, with over 400 screenings, special events, and discussions attended by audiences. The festival showcased a remarkable selection of 242 films from around the world, with more than 100 sessions being sold out.

Following its conclusion on June 18, the festival will embark on a traveling tour, bringing selected films to seven locations in New South Wales, including Newcastle, Orange, Port Macquarie, and Sawtell, as part of the Travelling Film Festival until October 2023.