Earlier, the film won the Special Mention prize at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in the Netherlands and the Best Debut Film award at the 10^th Kerala International Film Festival in India.

The film features a story of a young rural woman who was expelled from her village due to pregnancy out of wedlock dared to fight against social unfairness and prejudice.

The Best International Film (Gold Kinnaree) was awarded to Water directed by Deepa Mehta from India. Director Park Chan Wook from the Republic of Korea won the Best Director Award in the film Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. The Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to Presley Chaweneyagae from South Africa for his casting in Tsotsi and Felecity Huffman from the US in Transamerica.