Prashanti Talpankar Wins Best Actor Award at IFFSA, Toronto
Panaji: Veteran Goan actor Prashanti Talpankar has won the Best Actor (International) award at the 14th International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) held in Toronto, Canada, for her powerful performance in the Konkani short film Ancessao, directed by Manguirish Bandokar.
The festival, held from October 9 to 19, featured around 120 films in 22 languages. Talpankar was among only two winners in her category, alongside Suman Sen, who received the Best Director award for Cry Me a River.
The festival jury praised Talpankar’s “transformative performance” and her ability to “bring emotional depth and authenticity to the screen.” With this win, she becomes the first Goan actor to receive an international award for a Konkani film.
A respected figure in Goan cinema and theatre, Talpankar has acted in several acclaimed films including Poltodcho Munis, Alisha, Amori, and Baga Beach. She previously won Best Supporting Actor for her role in Juze at the Goa Film Festival.
Speaking after the win, the 62-year-old actor said the award belonged to Goa’s young filmmakers. “This shows that the future of Goan and Indian cinema lies in our own Konkani language,” she said. She also urged the government and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) to support regional films and revive regular state film festivals.
