<p>Indian drama <em>Pebbles</em>, directed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS, has won the top honour, the Tiger Award for best film, at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).</p>.<p>The Tamil language film follows an alcoholic abusive husband who, after his long-suffering wife runs off, sets out with his young son to find her and bring her back.</p>.<p>IFFR shared the award announcement on its official Twitter handle.</p>.<p>"This edition’s Tiger Award, IFFR’s most prestigious prize, goes to Pebbles by #VinothrajPS," the tweet read.</p>.<p>An emotional Vinothraj thanked the jury for selecting his feature directorial debut for the top prize.</p>.<p>"Feeling emotional! Pebbles won the Tiger Award 2021. Our Hardwork, patience & Dream finally came true. Thank you all for your love and support," he posted on the microblogging site alongside IFFR's announcement.</p>.<p>The Tiger Award is accompanied by a Euro 40,000 cash prize, to be shared between the director and producer of the winning film.</p>.<p>The jury of the festival featured Mosotho screenwriter Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Syrian filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia, Egyptian visual artist Hala Elkoussy, Dutch screenwriter Helena van der Meulen and producer Ilse Hughan.</p>.<p>On the festival's website, the jury described <em>Pebbles</em> as “a lesson in pure cinema”.</p>.<p>"Although the story deals with gruelling poverty in the searing drought-ridden landscapes of southern India, it succeeded nonetheless in captivating the jury with its beauty and humour," the jury added.</p>.<p>Titled <em>Koozhangal</em> in Tamil, <em>Pebbles</em> stars a host of newcomers and is produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayantara.</p>.<p>"First Production of @Rowdy_Pictures wins one of the most prestigious international award! First Tamil film to win this award. 2021 #TigerAward winner #Koozhangal #Pebbles. Can’t be happier!" Shivan tweeted.</p>.<p>He had also attended the film's world premiere at IFFR last week along with Nayantahra.</p>.<p>Soon after the movie's win, filmmaker Guneet Monga and directors Neeraj Ghaywan and Karthik Subbaraj congratulated the team for getting the top prize at the festival.</p>.<p>The Special Jury Award at IFFR went to <em>I Comete – A Corsican Summer</em> by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati, alongside <em>Looking for Venera</em> by Norika Sefa.</p>.<p>The jury said <em>I Comete</em> is "a true love letter to humanity" while <em>Looking for Venera</em> is "an intimate slice of life...imbued with the precarious, yet resilient quest to find one’s young self."</p>.<p>The Special Jury Award included Euro 10,000 cash prize for each winner.</p>.<p>IFFR ran from February 1-February 7. </p>
<p>Indian drama <em>Pebbles</em>, directed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS, has won the top honour, the Tiger Award for best film, at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).</p>.<p>The Tamil language film follows an alcoholic abusive husband who, after his long-suffering wife runs off, sets out with his young son to find her and bring her back.</p>.<p>IFFR shared the award announcement on its official Twitter handle.</p>.<p>"This edition’s Tiger Award, IFFR’s most prestigious prize, goes to Pebbles by #VinothrajPS," the tweet read.</p>.<p>An emotional Vinothraj thanked the jury for selecting his feature directorial debut for the top prize.</p>.<p>"Feeling emotional! Pebbles won the Tiger Award 2021. Our Hardwork, patience & Dream finally came true. Thank you all for your love and support," he posted on the microblogging site alongside IFFR's announcement.</p>.<p>The Tiger Award is accompanied by a Euro 40,000 cash prize, to be shared between the director and producer of the winning film.</p>.<p>The jury of the festival featured Mosotho screenwriter Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Syrian filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia, Egyptian visual artist Hala Elkoussy, Dutch screenwriter Helena van der Meulen and producer Ilse Hughan.</p>.<p>On the festival's website, the jury described <em>Pebbles</em> as “a lesson in pure cinema”.</p>.<p>"Although the story deals with gruelling poverty in the searing drought-ridden landscapes of southern India, it succeeded nonetheless in captivating the jury with its beauty and humour," the jury added.</p>.<p>Titled <em>Koozhangal</em> in Tamil, <em>Pebbles</em> stars a host of newcomers and is produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayantara.</p>.<p>"First Production of @Rowdy_Pictures wins one of the most prestigious international award! First Tamil film to win this award. 2021 #TigerAward winner #Koozhangal #Pebbles. Can’t be happier!" Shivan tweeted.</p>.<p>He had also attended the film's world premiere at IFFR last week along with Nayantahra.</p>.<p>Soon after the movie's win, filmmaker Guneet Monga and directors Neeraj Ghaywan and Karthik Subbaraj congratulated the team for getting the top prize at the festival.</p>.<p>The Special Jury Award at IFFR went to <em>I Comete – A Corsican Summer</em> by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati, alongside <em>Looking for Venera</em> by Norika Sefa.</p>.<p>The jury said <em>I Comete</em> is "a true love letter to humanity" while <em>Looking for Venera</em> is "an intimate slice of life...imbued with the precarious, yet resilient quest to find one’s young self."</p>.<p>The Special Jury Award included Euro 10,000 cash prize for each winner.</p>.<p>IFFR ran from February 1-February 7. </p>