Lipstick Under My Burkha Wins Audience Award At Glasgow Film Festival 2017

Shrivastava and the film gained international attention this week following the decision by India’s Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deny its theatrical release, citing the ‘lady-orientated’ subject matter and ‘sexual scenes and abusive words’.

Lipstick Under My Burkha tells the stories of four Indian women seeking more from life than docile domesticity. Young mother Shirin feels she must hide her professional success from her husband. Ambitious beautician Leela takes the lead with her Muslim boyfriend even as her family arranges her marriage to a Hindu boy. College girl Rehana is the Cinderella figure of the quartet whilst the older, irrepressible Auntie Usha sets her sights on a hunky swimming instructor. All of them are freedom fighters against a deeply patriarchal society in this colourful and wildly engaging production.

Now in its third year, the prestigious award – sponsored by ScotRail – is the only award presented at Glasgow Film Festival and is chosen by the most important people at the festival, the audiences. The award recognizes emerging filmmakers at the start of their careers, with the ten strong shortlist comprising films from five female and five male directors from countries including Switzerland, India, Israel, Canada, China, USA and the UK. Previous winners of the audience award include Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s Oscar-nominated Mustang and Tom Browne’s Radiator.

The 13th annual Glasgow Film Festival hosted over 310 events and screenings across twelve days at venues across the city, including red carpet premieres, and special event screenings at venues including M&D’s Theme Park (The Lost Boys) and Snow Factor (The Thing). It was announced at tonight’s Closing Gala that the next edition of the festival will run 21st February – 4th March 2018.

Comments:

Audience Award winner Alankrita Shrivastava comments:
“I am so deeply honoured that Lipstick Under My Burkha has won the ScotRail Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival.

Right now, when the film has been refused certification for exhibition in India because it is a women-centric film with a female point of view, I think the award could not have been more timely.

The fact that the people of Glasgow have loved the film is an affirmation of the relevance of the film across cultures and nations. It is an affirmation of the fact that women’s stories need to be told, through the female point of view. This award gives me hope. It gives me courage. It makes me believe that as women, we must continue to tell our stories, undeterred by those who want to silence us.”

Festival Co-director Allan Hunter comments:
“You can always rely on the impeccable good taste of the Glasgow Film Festival audience and I am thrilled at their choice of Lipstick Under My Burkha as the winner of the 2017 Audience Award. People responded with huge enthusiasm to the range and quality of the contenders and we are so grateful to ScotRail for their generous support of the award. Having David Tennant at the Festival to announce the winner made it even more memorable.”

ScotRail Marketing Manager Elaine Magee comments:
“This year’s festival has brought to light some incredible movies, and all films in the Audience Awards category have been truly deserving. We are very proud to be involved and extend our congratulations to Lipstick Under My Burkha as worthy winners. And we can’t wait to see what Alankrita Shrivastava directs next! ScotRail is committed to supporting the arts so the Glasgow Film Festival is a perfect fit. With over 240 stations stretching across Scotland, we were able to get movie-goers within walking distance of the many venues.”