Panaji, 20 November, 2021

Noted Hungarian Filmmaker Istvan Szabo has been conferred the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award by the 52^nd International Film Festival of India, at the opening ceremony held in Goa today, November 20, 2021.

For his outstanding contribution to World cinema, Istvan Szabo has been honored with the award at IFFI 52, which will come to a grand closing on November 28, 2021.

An extraordinary artist, Istvan Szabo achieved international success with his film Mephisto in the year 1981. The film is the first Hungarian film to have won an Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film. His movies broke the barrier of language and touched viewers’ hearts everywhere around the world.

Conveying his acceptance through a video message, Istvan Szabo said, “I am deeply moved to realize the fact that Indians know my films and some of them even love it.”

Expressing his gratitude for being presented with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, Istvan Szabo reminisced about his meeting with the legendary Satyajit Ray, which took place more than 30 years ago in the then Madras. “Ray invited me and my wife for dinner, which was excellent. We had a fantastic discussion on his films and film-making, our profession. It was a profound discussion that I will never forget.”

Hungarian filmmaker Istevan Szabo is honoured with #SatyajitRay Lifetime Achievement Award at #IFFI52

Watch a video on his works @IndiaInHungary @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/hemqJhyCat

— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 20, 2021

Thanking IFFI for presenting a recognition in the name of his friend of yore, Istvan Szabo said, “the radiant charismatic face of Ray and his spirit will be etched in my memory forever.”

Hollywood filmmaker Martin Scorsese has also been conferred the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI 52 Opening Ceremony today.

Satyajit Ray is considered as one of the pioneers of the modern cinema and he is revered by cine-buffs across the world. His works like The Apu Trilogy and The Music Room cemented his footing in the history of Indian cinema and remain classics till date.

Satyajit Ray was ray in the world of cinema which lights up a million minds and a billion cinematic ideas even today. As we celebrate 75 years of India’s independence and 100 years of the legendary filmmaker, it has been decided that IFFI’s Lifetime Achievement Award will henceforth be called the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.

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