Legendary actor Michael Douglas honored with lifetime achievement award at Goa’s International Film Festival

PANAJI, India (AP) — The 54th International Film Festival of India concluded with the presentation of the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award to Michael Douglas.

During his acceptance speech, the 79-year-old Hollywood veteran expressed his gratitude for the honor and emphasized the unifying power of moviemaking, calling cinema a global language that transcends barriers of geography, race, language, and time.

The festival, set in coastal Goa, India, awarded the Golden Peacock for Best Film to “Endless Borders,” a poignant work by Iranian director Abbas Amini. The film explores the complexities of physical, emotional, and moral borders, reflecting the current global conflicts and the importance of storytelling.

Chair of the international jury, Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, stressed the significance of sharing stories across borders to foster understanding, echoing the sentiments of the other jury members from Spain, France, and Australia.

India’s film industry, known for producing 1,500 movies annually, is increasingly gaining recognition with regional films making an impact on the global stage. India’s recent success at the Academy Awards further highlights the rising presence of Indian cinema on the international scene.

The Indian government’s push for global collaborations in the film industry has garnered attention, and Douglas praised the digital revolution and streaming services for facilitating the reach of Indian films to a wider audience.

Speaking about the essence of moviemaking, Douglas emphasized the universality of storytelling and the importance of creating films with a personal touch that carries an international message.