Cuban Film ‘To the West in Zapata’ Wins Top Honour at 31st KIFF

Cuban filmmaker David Bim’s “To the West in Zapata” won the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film in the International Competition on Innovation in Moving Images at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), which concluded on Thursday.

The film, celebrated for its inventive storytelling and visual depth, also received the FIPRESCI Award, presented by the International Federation of Film Critics, further cementing its global recognition.

In the same category, Sri Lankan filmmaker Lalith Rathnayake bagged the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Director for his film “Riverstone.” Meanwhile, Croatian director Ivona Juka won the Special Jury Award for Best Director for her film “Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day.”

The 31st edition of KIFF showcased a rich array of global cinema, celebrating artistic innovation, cross-cultural storytelling, and cinematic excellence. With “To the West in Zapata” emerging as the standout winner, this year’s festival reaffirmed its reputation as one of Asia’s most prestigious platforms for world cinema.