MUMBAI: Actress Nandita Das’ first directorial venture Firaaq, which talks about sectarian violence in Gujarat, has bagged the best film award at the Asian Festival of 1st Films in Singapore.

The film, co-written by Nandita Das, also won the best screenplay and Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid award.

Dante Nico Garcia swept away the best director award for Ploning. China's Jia Xuhua took away the best actress award for The Mountain and the Song while Bosco Francis was named best actor for playing a magician in My Magic.

The Asian Festival of 1st Films showcases first time documentaries and films across award categories including producers, directors, actors, screenplay writers and technicians.