Filmmaker Prakash Jha won the best actor award for his performance in Justaju and Sayani Gupta was named best actress in You in the short film category of the first edition of New Jersey Indian International Film Festival.

Desalos Isabella’s The Snag, from France, was awarded the best short film.

In the feature film category, the lead actress of Tikli & Laxmi Bomb, Chitrangdha Chakraborty, won the best actress award for her performance as a sex worker in the film that showcases a mini revolution of women against the system.

Vishwa was awarded the best actor award for his performance in the psychological thriller Saalai.

Half Widows of Kashmir, which was also the opening film at the festival, won filmmaker Danish Renzu the best director award. It was also named the best film at the fest.

Iraq’s only entry, Mariam, produced by Military Media Team and Mohammad Jaffar, won the best documentary award. Chintan Sharda won the best director award for his short film Shunyata.

In the director’s award category, some of the films that were awarded were Sweta Kripalani and Aditya Kriplani for Tikli & Laxmi Bomb. Ameesha Joshi and Anna Sarkissian’s documentary on India’s women boxers won the best documentary.

Italy’s short film Weird by Fausto Montanari was awarded the best short film.

Madhuri Dixit Nene’s Marathi debut Bucket List was screened at the closing ceremony of the festival to praises from the audience. Director Tejas Deoskar and producer Ashok Subedar interacted with the viewers and shared their experience of working with the Dhak Dhak girl.