Jio MAMI Film Festival Began In Mumbai After A Four-Year Break

 

The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival made a return after a four-year interval with a grand ceremony at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai on October 27. The festival once again brought a diverse selection of Indian, South Asian, and world cinema to the city. The festival opened with a spectacular master ceremony, led by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the chairperson of Jio MAMI.

A 10-Day Cinematic Odyssey

From October 27 to November 5, the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will unfold over ten days, showcasing more than 250 features and shorts across 20 screens in eight venues throughout Mumbai. The festival opened with Hansal Mehta’s highly anticipated film, “The Buckingham Murders,” a gritty crime drama set in the UK and starring Kareena Kapoor Khan. What sets this year apart is the presence of approximately 130 filmmakers who will personally present their films, fostering a unique connection between creators and their audience.

Icons of South Asia

A new addition to the festival lineup is “Icons South Asia.” This segment will feature standout films by talented filmmakers from the region. Notable entries include Anand Patwardhan’s “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” Vikramaditya Motwane’s “Indi(r)a’s Emergency,” Prasanna Vithanage’s “Paradise,” and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s “Something Like An Autobiography.”

Honoring Legends: Mani Ratnam and Luca Guadagnino

The festival’s opening night was filled with prestige as it celebrated two legendary directors, Mani Ratnam and Luca Guadagnino, by presenting them with the Excellence in Cinema award. Kamal Haasan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas had the honor of bestowing these awards upon the luminaries.

Mira Nair Leads the Jury for the South Asia Competition

Renowned filmmaker Mira Nair serves as the head of the jury for the South Asia Competition at this year’s Mumbai Film Festival.

Honoring Literary Excellence

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja presented the award for the best book on cinema to Prakash Magdum for his work, “Mahatma on Celluloid: A Cinematic Biography.” This book delves into the canon of documentaries, feature films, and newsreels made on Mahatma Gandhi by a wide range of filmmakers.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

The festival also celebrated the outstanding contributions of three distinguished individuals. Veteran Indian critic Aruna Vasudev, acclaimed author and subtitler Nasreen Munni Kabir, and film programmer and casting director Uma Da Cunha received the prestigious lifetime achievement awards. These awards were presented by Marco Muller, Karan Johar, and Adoor Gopalakrishnan, respectively.