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-Mikka Bannada Hakki(Bird of a Different Feather) directed by Manohara K and Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl) directed by Vinothraj PS won Spotlight Award and Nativa Award
-The Alternativa Film Project is a global and nomadic non-profit film initiative founded by inDrive and dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers from less developed screen industries
Yogyakarta, December 9, 2024 – Two Indian films, Mikka Bannada Hakki(Bird of a Different Feather-Kannada) directed by Manohara K and Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl-Tamil) directed by Vinothraj PS won Spotlight Award and Nativa Award, respectively at the Alternativa Film Project. The list of winners were announced at a ceremony held at the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and hosted by actor and United Nations SDG Mover for Gender Equality Hannah Al Rashid. While Spotlight Award is conferred on films which highlight often overlooked social issues, Native Awards recognises works that delve into national or cultural identity, showcasing stories that put regions and communities on the global map.
The Alternativa Film Project is a global and nomadic non-profit film initiative founded by inDrive and dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers from less developed screen industries, Additionally, the Alternativa Film Project has unveiled Latin America will be its new focus region starting from 2025, with the third Alternativa Film Ceremony and Awards then being held in 2026.
The Alternativa Film Awards recognise films with artistic excellence that also address important social and cultural topics, and which have an ambition to positively affect the lives of people and local communities and to challenge injustice in line with the mission of inDrive. This year is the second edition of the awards, which last year took place in Kazakhstan, but the first year they are happening as the final moment in a festival screening event hosted by the organisation. The Alternativa Film Festival featured public screenings and discussions for the shortlisted films. In parallel, a three-day Industry Days programme ran aimed at fostering connections between filmmakers, producers, and social impact leaders from South East Asia, Central Asia and the global stage.
Rather than the traditional prizes, the Alternativa Film Awards bestow awards for talents and titles exemplifying cultural, societal and industry impact. Together, these awards amplify voices and stories that matter, driving meaningful conversations through cinema.
From the 25 films selected, including 13 feature-length films and 12 shorts, from 14 Asian countries and across 20 different languages, winners were chosen by an independent, international jury of socially responsible filmmakers and experts in social impact. The jurors were: Anand Gandhi (India), Steffi Niederzoll (Germany), Carol Misorelli (Brazil), Asmara Abigail (Indonesia), Katerina Suvorova (Kazakhstan), Kamila Andini (Indonesia), and Amir Masoud Soheili (Iran). The total prize fund was $100,000, with $20,000 each awarded in the four full-length categories, and $10,000 each for the two winners in the Shorts Award category.
The winners for the Alternativa Film Awards’ second edition are as follows:
Spotlight Award – Highlights films that bring overlooked social issues to public attention, illuminating stories that might otherwise remain untold.
WINNER: BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER / MIKKA BANNADA HAKKI
Director: Manohara K
India, 2024
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Languages: Kannada
Key Cast: Jayashree, Rekha Kudligi, Manisha
Jury Citation – “This film portrays its young protagonist—not as a victim, but as a witty, perceptive, quietly defiant individual navigating her world’s contradictions. It captivates us by exploring how people confront struggle with humor and self-awareness. Without judging those around her—even those unwittingly causing her frustrations—it reveals great talent hidden in unexpected places. Talent that can enrich us all if nurtured. For its layered humanity and poetic irony, we present the Spotlight Award to BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER, directed by Manohara K.”
Statement given by the Jury
Future Voice Award – Honors emerging filmmakers whose first or second feature demonstrates a profound potential to drive change within both the film industry and society at large.
WINNER: CU LI NEVER CRIES / CU LI KHÔNG BAO GIỜ KHÓC
Director: Pham Ngoc Lan
Vietnam, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Vietnamese
Key Cast: Minh Chau, Ha Phuong, Xuan An, Hoang Ha
Alter Award – Celebrates films that inspire social transformation by addressing critical issues such as human rights, migration, and environmental challenges.
WINNER: GRAND ME
Director: Atiye Zare Arandi
Iran, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Persian
Nativa Award – Recognizes works that delve into national or cultural identity, showcasing stories that put regions and communities on the global map
WINNER: THE ADAMANT GIRL / KOTTUKKAALI
Director: Vinothraj PS
India, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Tamil
Key Cast: Soori Muthuchamy, Anna Ben
Jury Citation – “Here is a film that compels us to confront the contradictions of culture and community, where power often hides beneath the guise of tradition. It asks: In sustaining cultural identities, what ideas are worth inheriting, what rituals must be discarded, and who decides? Through a young woman’s silent defiance, a single line of dialogue, and the untied hair of her imagined freedom, this story challenges systemic inequities masked as native culture. For its unflinching exploration of the tension between equity and tradition, we proudly present the Nativa Award to THE ADAMANT GIRL directed by P. S. Vinothraj.”
Statement given by: Anand Gandhi
Shorts Award – Supports bold filmmakers from the focus region, rewarding two impactful short films with a clear vision for change
WINNER: WASHHH
Director: Mickey Lai
Malaysia, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Malay, English, Chinese
Key Cast: Farah Ahmad, Esha Anum, Kaana Selvam, Li Xuan Siow
WINNER: A CLEANING SERVICE / LAU LẠI ĐẦU TỪ
Director: Nguyen Duy Anh
Vietnam, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Vietnamese
Jury Citation – “For its poetic storytelling and innovative approach to exploring labor, gender, and societal norms, this film captivates with its striking visuals and layered soundscapes. It challenges perceptions while celebrating resilience and profoundly reflects contemporary realities. For its masterful use of hybrid documentary techniques to shed light on complex issues, the Shorts Award goes to A CLEANING SERVICE by Duy Anh
Beyond these six prizes, the Resonance Award was given to Thai feature How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024, dir. Pat Boonnitipat), a heartwarming film delving into the complexity of family relationships, sacrifices and the pursuit of happiness. This award celebrates outstanding success with the audience, and while it is not part of the open call and does not carry a monetary award, the winner in this category will receive a training or mentorship programmed tailored to their individual needs.
Arsen Tomsky the CEO and Founder of inDrive, which founded the Alternativa Film Project, addressed the audience via video during the ceremony and said: “It’s a great honour to have Awards and festival this year in Yogykarta – and we are thrilled to have welcomed over 3,000 audience members to watch these powerful films, and broaden the impact they have in this real celebration of art. We have a team of almost 200 people, largely local, who have gone above and beyond to make this wonderful initiative possible. We’d also like to thank Mas Garin, our distinguished host for this evening – and also a partner of ours through GIK.”
Liza Surganova, Head of Alternativa Film Project, said: “We are proud to celebrate each of the winners of the 2024 Alternativa Film Awards, whose remarkable works embody the transformative power of cinema. These films not only push the boundaries of artistic expression but also shine a light on pressing social issues, sparking conversations that can inspire meaningful change. We believe in the potential of storytelling to unite communities and address systemic challenges, and the Alternativa Film Project is our way of championing the incredible talent that drives these narratives forward. We aimed to give greater international visibility to filmmakers whose work has potential to bring social change, and I am thrilled to see that vision taking shape. Through this initiative, we hope to empower filmmakers to continue creating art that resonates, uplifts, and impacts society for the better – and looking ahead to the future, we are excited to spread this focus to Latin America for our third edition.”
The Alternativa Film Project represents the latest in a series of company efforts to confront systemic injustices and create opportunities for underserved communities. By bringing attention to often-overlooked film industries, Alternativa seeks to elevate a new generation of artistic voices and share their stories on a global stage. The Alternativa Film Project was first launched in 2023 by inDrive, a global technology company known for its peer-to-peer rideshare pricing model.
