Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 8 (Reporter) Agnes Godard, the highly regarded French cinematographer will head the international jury of 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The jury also includes Marcos Loayza, Mikayel Dovlatyan, Nana Dzhordzhadze and Assamese director Monjul Baruah. The 14 films in the International Competition category will be judged by the five-member jury. One film of each jury member will be screened as part of the festival – ‘A Chef in Love’, ‘Labyrinth’, ‘Beau Travail', 'Eyes on the Sunshine' and ‘Averno’. Noted for her hypnotising and innovative frames, Agnès Godard's style is grounded in her strong preference for saturated colors. In a career spanning three decades, Godard has collaborated with one of the finest filmmakers, Claire Denis in a series of projects. She is mainly known for her work in ‘Beau Travail’, ‘Home’ and ‘Wings of Desire’. Godard has won many prestigious awards such as the Best Cinematography award at the National Society of Film Critics Award and the Pierre Angénieux Excellens in Cinematography at the 2021 Cannes. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Nana Djordjadze is a multi-faceted filmmaker. She has directed nine feature films, six documentaries, ten short films and six TV series. Her major works include ‘The Prince and the Pauper’, ‘Forced Migration of the Butterflies', ‘Prime Meridian of Wine’,’ La pate de lapin’ and ‘27 Missing Kisses’. Her film, ‘A Chef in Love’ was nominated for the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category in 1997, making her the first Georgian director to win the nomination. She won the esteemed “Camera d’Or” at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival for the film ‘Robinsonada’ (My English Grandfather). Being a member of multiple prestigious Film Academies, Djordjadze has served as a jury in over a 100 international film festivals namely Cannes, Berlin and many more. Born in Armenia, Mikael Dovlatyan, is a director, writer and actor who has over four decades of contributions to Armenian cinema. Dovlatyan's journey in the film industry began with his graduation from the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Arts in 1977, followed by his graduation from the State Institute of Cinematography, Moscow in 1981. Throughout his illustrious career, Dovlatyan has directed several notable films, including ‘La Vallée de la Lune’, ‘Demqov Depi Pate’ and ‘Our Yard’. His contributions to cinema serves as a testament to his dedication to storytelling and artistic excellence. As he continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers, his legacy as a pioneering figure in Armenian cinema remains unparalleled. Monjul Baruah, an Indian filmmaker, primarily known for his work in Assamese Cinema, has directed several critically acclaimed movies including ‘Antareen (Quest of Sanctuary)’, ‘Kaaneen (A Secret Search)’, and ‘Anur (Eyes on The Sunshine)’. His films often explore themes of human relationships, social issues, and the complexities of life. His directorial debut, Antareen has won several awards including the National Film Award for Best Assamese Film. Marcos Loayza, born in Bolivia, is a celebrated filmmaker and screenwriter recognised for being one of the most influential voices in Latin American cinema. Loayza's work is known for its unique visual style and profound exploration of Bolivian culture, history, and societal complexities. His directorial debut, ‘Cuestión de Fe’, brought him international acclaim and earned awards such as the Best Latin American Film at the Havana Film Festival. Among his other notable works are ‘Escrito en el Agua’ and ‘El Corazón de Jesús’. Throughout his career, Loayza has received numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bolivian government. His films, blending humour, social commentary, and poetic imagery, continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers and celebrate the richness of Bolivian identity. One film of each international jury member will be screened during the festival. With Agnès Godard as the cinematographer, ‘Beau Travail’, is a war-drama directed by Claire Denis. The film is about an ex-Foreign Legion officer, Galoup, recalling his training days in the Gulf of Djibouti. The film follows the conflict after the arrival of the promising new recruit, Sentain. The happy, and disciplined nature of the officer’s life is disrupted after the arrival of the recruit. Godard received the César Award for Best Cinematography in 2001 for the film. ‘A Chef in Love’, directed by Nana Djordjadze, is a rom-com about a French traveller and chef, Pascal Ichak, who falls in love with a Georgian Princess. Set in the Soviet Republic of Georgia in the early 1920s, this tale of food, love and Communism takes place when a young artist Anton is asked to translate a memoir written by his chef uncle Pascal Ichak during his last wretched days under Communist rule. The film was nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1997 and was also screened at the 49th Cannes Film Festival as part of the Directors’ Fortnight. ‘Labyrinth’ (Labirintos) directed by Mikael Dovlatyan, is a gripping psychological drama that symbolizes the complexities of human life through the struggles of individuals trapped in both physical and emotional mazes where they have to sort out the real from the imaginary. The masterpiece, co-produced by Armenia and France, was showcased in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival in 1995. 'Eyes on the Sunshine (Anur)', directed by Monjul Baruah is about a widow, Anupama, living alone in a house that holds memories of her late husband. The story follows her finding a man sunbathing on the lawn. The trespass, which initially instilled fear in her, ends up making for a welcome intrusion into her claustrophobic loneliness. Anur won the National Award for the Best Feature Film in Assamese language in 2023. 'Averno', directed by Marcos Loayza, is a surreal journey into Bolivian folklore. The story revolves around Averno, a place where the Andean inhabitants believe that the dead coexist with the living and where everything finds its opposite face. The protagonist of the film, Tupah, a young shoe shiner while embarking upon a dangerous journey through the underworld tries to rescue his uncle. As myth and reality get endlessly intertwined, Tupah has to defeat the worst of his enemies and the greatest of his fears. The film has won many awards including Best Latin American Film at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema and the Special Jury Award and Golden Kikito at the Gramado Film Festival...////...