The 32nd edition of the Durban International Film Festival, with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, last night announced its award-winners, prior to the closing film.

Winner of the Best Feature Film award, Nader and Simin, A Separation (Iran), directed by Asghar Farhadi, was lauded by the International Jury as a “masterpiece” with “astonishing performances from the ensemble cast”.
The Best Feature Film award carries a cash prize of R50 000. Receiving a cash prize of R25 000, the Best South African Feature Film was awarded to Skoonheid (France/South Africa), directed by Oliver Hermanus.
The jury commended the film as revealing a director on a “remarkable trajectory”, praising the film’s “subtlety, control and knowledge of film history” and one which “tells a complex South African story with universal appeal”.
The Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award, with a prize of € 2,500, went to Sobukwe, A Great Soul (South Africa), directed by Mickey Madoda Dube.
A R20 000 prize for Best First Feature Film was awarded to Matthew Gordon for The Dynamiter (USA).
The full list of awards are: 

Best Film: Nader and Simin, A Separation (Iran), directed by Asghar Farhadi
Best South African Feature: Skoonheid (France/South Africa), directed by Oliver Hermanus
Best First Feature: The Dynamiter (USA), directed by Matthew Gordon
Best Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev for Elena (Russia)
Best Actress: Nadezhda Markina in Elena (Russia)
Best Actor: William Patrick Ruffin in The Dynamiter (USA)
Best Cinematography: Mikhail Krichman for Elena (Russia)
Best Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi for Nader and Simin, A Separation (Iran)
Special Mention Feature Film: Skoonheid (South Africa), directed by Oliver Hermanus
Special Mention South African Feature Film: Eldorado (South Africa), directed by Shaldon Ferris and Lorreal Ferris
Best Documentary: Position Among the Stars (Stand van de Sterren) (The Netherlands), directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich
Best South African Documentary: Dear Mandela (South Africa/USA), directed by Dara Kell and Christopher Nizza
Best Short Film: Dirty Laundry (South Africa), directed by Stephen Abbott
Best South African Short Film: Dirty Laundry (South Africa), directed by Stephen Abbott
Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award: Sobukwe, A Great Soul (South Africa), directed by Mickey Madoda Dube
DIFF Wavescape Surf Film Festival Audience Award: A Deeper Shade Of Blue (Australia) directed by Jack McCoy
DIFF Documentary Audience Award: Fire in Babylon (United Kingdom), directed by Stevan Riley
DIFF Feature Film Audience Award: The First Grader (Kenya,United Kingdom,South Africa), directed by Justin Chadwick