Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male) Awarded to Ubeimar Rios for ‘A Poet’
Jury Appreciated Ubeimar Rios’ Brilliant First-Time Performance as a Suffering, Defeated Poet in Crisis
Jury Praised ‘A Poet’ for Exploring the Age-Old Clash Between Art and Survival in a Unique Way
#IFFIWood, 28 November 2025
Ubeimar Rios has been awarded the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male) for his role in Columbian film A Poet at the 56th International Film Festival of India. The award carries the Silver Peacock Trophy, Certificate and a cash prize of ₹10,00,000, presented for his compelling portrayal in the International Competition section. The award was presented by CM Goa, Shri. Pramod Sawant and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan in the presence of Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, IFFI Jury Chairperson Shri. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra and Festival Director Shri. Shekhar Kapur.
Director of the film Simón Mesa Soto received the award
The Jury noted, "A Poet explores the age-old clash between Art and Survival, but in a unique and unexpected way. Oscar was once a celebrated poet who has fallen from grace partly due to his bitter resentment of those who once supported him. A brilliant first-time performance from actor Ubeimar Rios reveals a suffering, defeated Oscar in a serious emotional crisis until he meets a talented teenager who changes his life. There are challenges ahead, yet the film and Ubeimar’s portrayal are supremely uplifting and ultimately wonderfully redeeming."
With this recognition, Ubeimar Rios’ performance stands as one of the most notable acting honours of the 56th IFFI.
Synopsis of A Poet
Oscar Restrepo is a forgotten Colombian poet, living in poverty and emotional turmoil. Once celebrated, he now drifts through Medellin, mocked by family and ignored by the literary world. His life shifts when he meets Yurlady, a gifted teenage poet from a poor background. Oscar mentors her, hoping to revive his own lost dreams. As Yurlady rises, elite institutions exploit her image for prestige, while she remains focused on helping her family. The film blends satire and emotion, exploring failed ambition, mentorship, and the clash between art and survival.
PC Link of A Poet
About IFFI
Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.
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