Written and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane, THE DISCIPLE – a critically acclaimed film that is produced by Vivek Gomber of Zoo Entertainment has won the Amplify Voices award presented by Canada Goose at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. Having bagged the Best Screenplay award and the International Critics’ Prize by FIPRESCI at the 77th Venice Film Festival and then the Amplify Voices award by the all-Canadian jury comprising actress Sarah Gadon, actor and producer Damon D’Oliveira, and director Danis Goulet, this is the third award for THE DISCIPLE.
While the jury of Amplify Voices described THE DISCIPLE as ‘visually sumptuous and insightful’, the TIFF jury’s citation read: “Masterful in its restraint, this film about a struggling classical Indian musician who explores the tension between traditional discipline and the contemporary impulse to be instantly validated.”
The award offers a $10,000 cash prize, made possible by Canada Goose. Canada Goose embraces diversity in all its forms and definitions, including technique and passion that transports storytelling to screen. These awards will be presented to the three best feature films by under-represented filmmakers. The other winners of the Amplify Voices awards are NIGHT OF THE KINGSby Côte d’Ivoire director Philippe Lacôte, and INCONVENIENT INDIANby Canadian director Michelle Latimer.
“We are super excited. We are in lockdown in Mumbai and it’s news like this that brightens our day and gives us hope. I would like to thank Cameron Bailey and the entire team of TIFF for selecting THE DISCIPLE, and also the jury for giving us this award,” exclaimed Chaitanya Tamhane dedicating this award to Vivek Gomber, the producer of the film and thanked the audiences of the TIFF film festival.
