Filmmaker Ankur Arun Kakatkar’s latest directorial, Courage, has been making its way across the international festival circuit. The Indo-American English film recently added another feather to its cap by winning at the NIFFA Awards, marking another milestone in Ankur’s career. A Pune native with a theatre background, Ankur made his directorial debut with Dhol Taashe in 2013. Since then, he has directed four feature films, television projects and brand campaigns. His 2019 web series Gondya Ala Re, based on the lives of the Chapekar brothers, was well received, while Courage also marks his foray into directing a Hollywood production.Courage has had a strong run on the international festival circuit. The film won Best International Film at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Best International Indie Feature at the Los Angeles Cine Awards, Best Director and Best International Feature at the New York Film Awards, and multiple honours, including Best Film and Best Director, at the Works Independent Cinema Awards.
Filmmaker Ankur Arun Kakatkar during the shoot of his Indo-American English film Courage. The project marks an important milestone in his career and has received recognition at multiple international film festivals, with its latest honour coming at the NIFFA Awards, where it added another win to its festival journey.
Reflecting on the film, Ankur said, “Courage is a film that taught me to be a human being first and everything else later. Dedication and organ donation are among the purest forms of love.” The film’s latest recognition at NIFFA carries deep personal significance for the filmmaker. He shared, “I want to dedicate this win to my father. He was bedridden when I travelled to Sydney for NIFFA, and shortly after we returned from the premiere, he passed away on April 18 this year. Baba, this is yours.” Speaking about what the award represents, Ankur added, “This award for Courage at NIFFA is far more than a trophy. It represents years of faith, patience, sacrifice and perseverance. There were moments when the journey felt impossibly long, when the dream seemed distant, and when the only thing that kept us going was our belief in the story we wanted to tell. Standing here today with this recognition, every struggle, every sleepless night, every setback and every ounce of hope feels worthwhile.” He added, “Courage was born from the heart, and seeing it honoured in this way is a reminder that persistence does not go unnoticed. I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in this film and stood by us. This award is not just a victory for a film, but a reminder that patience, passion and courage can turn dreams into reality.”
