Awards - General Knowledge Questions

Correct Answer :   Gauri

"Gauri", a documentary on journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh directed by Kavita Lankesh, has won the “Best Long Documentary Award” at the Montreal 2023 South Asian Film Festival.

* According to a release, the award’s citation read : “A brave and uncompromising pulse-taking of the current crisis in Indian politics, centered on the political assassination of Bengaluru-based journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017. A “JQs” docu-thriller directed and narrated by Gauri’s sister, Kavita Lankesh.

* The documentary “All That Breathes”, which was an Oscar nominee, was also in competition and won the runner-up award.

* The documentary film “Gauri” has been commissioned by Free Press Unlimited, Amsterdam.

* The Free Press Unlimited mission stems from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers..

Source : Bharat Times

Correct Answer :   Ben Whishaw

Ben Whishaw has received the best leading actor award for his role in 'This is Going to Hurt (BBC One)' at the BAFTA TV Awards 2023.

While Kate Winslet won the leading actress award for her role in I Am Ruth (Channel 4).

Other awards :

* Drama series: Bad Sisters (Apple TV Plus)
* Mini-series: Mood (BBC Three)
* International: Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)
* Supporting actor: Adeel Akhtar – Sherwood (BBC One).

Source : Independent

Correct Answer :   Arinze Ifeakandu

* Writer Arinze Ifeakandu has won Swansea University's Dylan Thomas Prize 2023 for a “kaleidoscopic reflection of queer life and love in Nigeria”,  for his debut book God’s Children Are Little Broken Things ' at a ceremony in London on May 11, 2023.

* Started in 2006, the Dylan Thomas Prize is "awarded for the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under," reads a statement on their website. It further reads, "the Prize celebrates the international world of fiction in all its forms including poetry, novels,

* His debut book is God’s Children Are Little Broken Things', which is a collection of nine short stories on the themes of queer life, love, and humanity...

Source : India Times.

Correct Answer :   Cochin Port

* The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways honoured the Cochin Port Authority (CPA) with the Sagar Shreshtha Sammaan for the best turnaround time in non-container category during 2022-23.

* Minister for Ports and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal presented the award to CPA Chairperson M. Beena in New Delhi on Wednesday (10th May 2023).

* The award is in recognition of the ‘excellent performance of the Cochin Port in handling dry bulk and liquid bulk cargo vessels’.

* The port recorded 48 hours in turning around vessels of an average parcel size of 43,800 MT. The turnaround time is an important performance parameter. The function was attended by senior functionaries of the Ministry, major ports and industry representatives..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Jayant V. Narlikar

Prof Jayant V. Narlikar, eminent astronomer and founder director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, was presented the first Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award by the Astronomical Society of India (ASI) on Thursday (11th May 2023).

The ASI had instituted the award in 2022, as it celebrated its golden jubilee, to recognize eminent Indian astronomers for their contributions in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.

Prof Dipankar Banerjee, President of ASI, told The award was announced earlier this year at the 41st meeting of the society held at IIT Indore. “However, Prof. Narlikar was unable to travel to receive it. Hence today we handed over the award to Prof. Narlikar at his residence in Pune and felicitated him,” Prof Banerjee said. The award carries a citation and plaque, and a cash prize..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Lionel Messi

Argentina footballer, Lionel Messi has been named the Sportsman of the Year at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards.

* He was awarded for his remarkable achievements on the pitch in the past year, which included leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup.

* Sportswoman of the Year : Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) Athletics

* Team of the Year : Argentina Men’s Football Team

* Breakthrough : Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Tennis

* Comeback : Christian Eriksen (Denmark) Football.

Source : Insidesport

Correct Answer :   Barbara Kingsolver and Hernan Diaz

Barbara Kingsolver (American Novelist) and Hernan Diaz (Argentina Writer) were awarded the Pulitzer Prize 2023 in the fiction category.

Barbara Kingsolver was awarded for her novel 'Demon Copperhead' and Hernan Diaz won for his novel 'Trust'.

Other categories :

Drama : English, by Sanaz Toossi

Biography : G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, by Beverly Gage (Viking)

Memoir or Autobiography : Stay True, by Hua Hsu (Doubleday).

Source : Pulitzer

Correct Answer :   Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas will receive the Honorary Palme d’Or at 2023 Cannes Film Festival to celebrate his career.

* The festival will pay tribute to the actor and hand him the award during the Opening Ceremony on 16 May 2023. As part of the tribute, the festival will screen a previously unreleased documentary by Amine Mesta on Douglas titled Michael Douglas, The Prodigal Son.

* The Cannes Film Festival takes place from 16 May 2023 to 27 May 2023.

The doc’s synopsis reads : “This special documentary shows us how Michael, an actor, and producer like his father Kirk, had to embrace their resemblance throughout his remarkable career in order to assert his difference. The time to learn how to become Michael when your name is Douglas.”

* The Fatal Attraction actor’s last appearance in Cannes was in 2013 for the debut of Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra, which also starred Matt Damon.

* Last year’s (2022) recipient of the honorary Palme d’Or was Tom Cruise, who was on the Croisette with the much-publicised premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Past winners also include Forest Whitaker, Jodie Foster, Alain Delon, Agnès Varda, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Jane Fonda. The gong was first awarded to Ingmar Bergman in 1997.

* “It is always a breath of fresh air to be at Cannes, which has long provided a wonderful platform for bold creators, artistic audacities, and excellence in storytelling,” Douglas said.

* “From my first time here in 1979 for The China Syndrome to my most recent premiere for Behind the Candelabra in 2013, the Festival has always reminded me that the magic of cinema is not just in what we see onscreen but in its ability to impact people all around the world. After more than 50 years in the business, it’s an honour to return to the Croisette to open the Festival and embrace our shared global language of film.”.

Source : Euro News

Correct Answer :   Meera Syal

UK-based Indian-origin actor-writer Meera Syal has been conferred a BAFTA Fellowship, the highest accolade bestowed by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film and/or television.

The 61-year-old, who was born to Punjabi parents and grew up in the West Midlands region of England, was honoured with an MBE and then a CBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to drama and literature.

Best known for television shows such as ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The Kumars at No. 42’, Syal has made her mark as an award-winning actor, screenwriter and novelist over the years.

The fellowship will be presented to her during the BAFTA Television Awards ceremony as part of a special commemoration of her work to-date at the Royal Festival Hall in London on May 14.

She said she is “honoured and thrilled” with the award, particularly as this year’s award is twinned with opportunities to mentor and support participants in BAFTA’s learning programme..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Neeli Bendapudi

Neeli Bendapudi, the Indian American president of Penn State University, will receive prestigious Immigrant Achievement Award 2023 for her contributions to higher education in the US.

The award is presented each year to an individual or organisation that exhibits a commitment and dedication to America’s heritage as a nation of immigrants and advocacy for humane immigration policy.

The award would be presented to 59-year-old Bendapudi at the DC Immigrant Achievement Awards reception on 28th April 2023, according to a statement.

“For nearly 30 years, Penn State President Dr Bendapudi’s career in higher education has been committed to student success, fostering inclusive excellence, and creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to thrive,” said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council.

Terming her a “values-driven” leader, Robbins said Bendapudi believes strongly in the transformative power of higher education and its impact on individuals and communities...

Source : Indian Express