Vatavaran 2005 concluded on November 24, 2005 with a bounty of awards to young producers and an appeal to TV channels to feature those films.

Vatavaran 2005 awards were given in all to 10 filmmakers in seven categories at a packed India Habitat Centre auditorium by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Shri. Namo Naraian Meena and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit, on Thursday, 24 November, 2005

“Indian Leopards – The Killing Field” by Praveen Singh bagged the Best of Vatavaran 2005 Festival. “A Second Hand Life” by Nutan Manmohan won the Delhi Chief Minister’s award for the best documentary. “River Taming Mantras” by Sanjay Barnela and Vasant Saberwal won the best award in the Environment category.

The Best of Festival was given a cash prize of Rs.1,50,000/- and a citation. The other awards ranged from Rs. 50,000/- to Rs. 1,00,000/-. The categories awarded include Public Service Message, Wildlife Conservation, Environment, Student, Animation and Forests for Life. The best documentary awards in forest for life category was supported by Star.

Best documentary award in Wildlife category was given to “The Last Flight” by Nutun Manmohan and “The Policing Langur” by Ajay and Vijay Bedi produced for Public Service Broadcasting Trust. The Award carried a trophy, citation and award money of Rs. 1,00,000 each.

2005 Festival Theme: Forest for Life awards was presented to “Invocations to the Mountain Goddess” by Christopher Rego. The Star award was given to best documentary under theme category to “Vikas Bandook Ki Naal Se” by Biju Toppo and Meghnath. Best Animation film award was bagged by “Irony” by R Sathya Narayanan for Ramanujam Foundation. The award of Rs. 50,000, a trophy and citation was given.

The Award for Best Public Service Message Spot with Rs. 50,000 was won by “Do Your Bit” directed by Anand Thakur and produced by Ogilvy and Mather Advertising Limited for Eco-India. The student category award was given to “Fistful of Steel” by Leena Rani Narzary, Nidhi Bal Singh and Sabir Haque for A J Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia. The award of Rs. 50,000 was given alongwith Trophy and a citation.

Eight awards wroth Rs. 8 lakhs were supported by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India.