MUMBAI: The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) has awarded its Grand Prix for Best Film award of the year to the Terrence Malick film, The Tree Of Life.

The organisers arrived at their decision when as many as 205 critrics, all members of FIPRESCI, voted for the film among several film entries that were released in the last 12 months. Starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, the film is a poetic, personal reflection on the meaning of human life.

The award will be presented at the opening ceremony of the 59th San Sebastián International Film Festival on 16 September. Given that Terrence Malick is unable to attend the opening gala, the prize will be collected by a representative of Tri Pictures, the Spanish distributors of the film.

 
Malick, who bagged the Golden Shell for Best Film with Badlands, thanked all members of FIPRESCI for the recognition.

In earlier editions of the Festival, the FIPRESCI Grand Prix award was given to films directed by some of the biggest names in film worldwide like Pedro Almodóvar, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jafar Panahi, Kim Ki-duk, Aki Kaurismäki, Nuri Bülge Ceylan, Jean-Luc Godard, Cristian Mungiu, Michael Haneke and Roman Polanski.