Kangana Ranaut along with the Board of Trustees – Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Rohan Sippy, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Manish Mundra, Vishal Bhardwaj & Dibakar Banerjee joined Jio MAMI with Star Co-chairperson, Kiran Rao & Festival Director Anupama Chopra.
Over 180 films from 54 countries including features, documentaries & short films to be showcased at the festival.
The Film Festival will honour director & screenwriter Sai Paranjpye & acclaimed filmmaker, Jia Zhangke with “Excellence in Cinema” Award
The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star is less than a month away from offering the city a movie extravaganza unlike any other. In its 18th edition, the festival announced its stellar line-up for the year at its annual press conference held on Thurs, 29th Sept, in Mumbai. The festival is set to kick off on 20th Oct, 2016. The press conference began with the announcement of the festival’s new brand identity.
Jio MAMI with Star, Festival Co-Chairperson, Kiran Rao averred, “It’s been a very exciting year for the Academy. Firstly, we are now a year around presence. We launched the MAMI Film Club in May, 2016 with a conversation between Sir Ian McKellen & Aamir Khan. We’ve followed that up with Indian premieres of films such as Brahman Naman and India in A Day. The Academy is committed to bringing you great film content & conversations not just in Oct, 2016 but throughout the year. We’ve also got a new identity. Mumbai is a mosaic of islands & communities, of over 16 million people, their hopes & dreams. We wanted to find an identity that reflects this great city and the festival. If you look closely at our new logo, you will see 2 fish creating a geometric pattern that forms the Devnagri representation of MAMI. This identity also works well for us because we are always fishing for talent!!!”
Mrs. Nita M. Ambani, Founder & Chairperson, Reliance Foundation & Co-Chair, MAMI Board of Trustees averred, “Welcome to Jio MAMI – the 18th Mumbai Film Festival. Cinema acts as a game changer, inspiring & influencing lives and making a positive contribution to the society. The advent of digital technology is taking filmmaking to a higher level, with innovative opportunities & techniques for creative expression & viewership. I have no doubt that this digital way of life will help the world of content creation in a big way. Let this edition of the much-awaited Jio MAMI festival continue to add value to the film fraternity & audiences in India.”
Uday Shankar, CEO, STAR India averred, “I have always believed that the media & entertainment industry has a very important role in shaping society & cultural consciousness. We at Star believe in the potential of stories to stimulate imagination & influence societal change moving the nation forward. MAMI brings such exemplary stories to life with world class cinema especially curated for the festival. This will be our 3rd year of association with MAMI and together we hope to connect the city to world-class content & provide an amazing platform for young & creative talent.”
Gayatri Yadav, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications, STAR India averred, “This is our 3rd year and it’s really something we strongly believe in. We strongly believe in the vision, the brand & the people behind it. Star’s vision is to inspire a billion imaginations and there is nothing more central to inspiring imaginations to shape our nation’s cultural consciousness toward films.”
Actor & Director Dibakar Banerjee averred, “Each year, the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star gives 2 “Excellence in Cinema awards”. This year, our international award goes to Chinese director Jia Zhangke. Jia Zhangke belongs to the 6th generation of Chinese filmmakers. His work has offered a unique perspective on a transitional generation. He combines this with a humane concern for the working class & poor. Jia Zhangke has directed 13 films in 21 years. His works continue to break boundaries and move the world.”
Filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj avered, “Our “Indian Excellence in Cinema award” goes to filmmaker Sai Paranjpye. Sai Paranjpye’s career has spanned over 4 decades. Her films are milestones in Indian cinema. Sai’s cinema is defined by certain humanity. Her films didn’t have oversized heroes & villains. She told slice of life stories about common people. Her work continues to inspire generations of filmmakers.”
Director Zoya Akhtar announced the jury for the Jio MAMI with Star’s competition category, India Gold. She averred, “One of the primary functions of the festival is to serve as a gateway to the best of Indian cinema. Here’s our India Gold jury. This section also carries award money of 45 lakhs. Joining the jury this year is composer Mychael Danna who won both the Oscar & the Golden Globe for Life of Pi. Time magazine film critic Stephanie Zacharek, Taiwanese film director & photographer Yonfan and the head of the jury is Turkish film director Reha Erdem, who has been called Turkey’s most philosophical & contemplative filmmaker.”
Director & scriptwriter Vikramaditya Motwane announced the jury for the International Competition and averred, “This section also carries award money of 45 lakhs and the jury are: Film maker Anurag Kashyap, one of Hindi cinema’s most compelling creators, Producer Christine Vachon whose films include Carol, Still Alice & Boys Don’t Cry, Chris McDonald, President of Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America, Writer Director & photographer Tala Hadid. Her short film Tes Cheveux Noirs Ihsan, won an Academy Award. And the Head of the Jury is Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes. Miguel’s last film The Arabian Nights Trilogy had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. His earlier film Tabu won the Fipresci prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 2012.”
Introducing a new programme at the festival that brings films from one, select country every year, Director Anurag Kashyap averred, “This year, the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star will include a new programme, Country Focus. This year the country in focus is Turkey. The festival will screen 10 films from Turkey, which represents the different strains of cinema in the country. The selection will include films of the Turkish New Wave & directors like Zeki Demirkubuz & Nuri Bilge Ceylan. It will also have classics like The Bride from 1973.”
This year, the festival also acknowledges the contribution of women in the film industry and in order to strengthen its efforts to ensure that these women get the recognition they deserve, the festival introduces new awards.
Announcing the new award at the festival this year, Siddharth Roy Kapur, MD, Disney India averred, “This year, Oxfam India in partnership with the festival has instituted an award for 10 lakhs rupees for “Best Film” on Gender Equality. The award category focuses on films that challenge gender based social norms, which lead to gender inequality and hence to the global pandemic of violence against women & girls. The Indian film industry is one of the most significant influencers in Indian society. Oxfam India aims to encourage & recognize professional filmmakers who make cinema, which promotes positive gender norms and inspires people for a future where violence against women & girls no longer exists. This is only open to Indian films programmed at the festival.”
Filmmaker Karan Johar averred, “We are also thrilled to announce a special award this year called the MAMI MasterCard “Best Indian Female Filmmaker 2016 award”. This award for 15 lakhs rupees is also for Indian films only. This award aims to strengthen the female voice in Indian cinema. Over the last 5 years, we’ve made some progress here but it’s much too little. The representation of both genders onscreen can only benefit with the inclusion of more female voices. This award is a step towards that.”
Announcing the few names from the international films line-up that will be screened at the festival this year, Director & Producer, Rohan Sippy said, “Few of the exciting titles in our International Selection are: I, Daniel Blake by Ken Loach, Swiss Army Man by Daniels, Certain Women by Kelly Reichardt, Graduation by Cristian Mungiu, Things To Come by Mia Hansen-Love, Elle by Paul Verhoeven, Neruda by Pablo Larrain, Mostly Sunny – A Documentary on Sunny Leone by Dilip Mehta & Hema Hema: Sing Me A Song While I Wait by Khyentse Norbu from Bhutan.”
Also Present at the press conference, Film Producer, Manisha Mundra averred, “Some of our Indian titles are: A Death in the Gunj By Konkona Sen Sharma, Lady Of The Lake by Haobam Paban Kumar, Loev by Sudhanshu Saria, Autohead by Rohit Mittal, The Cinema Travellers by Shirley Abraham & Amit Madheshiya, Lipstick Under My Burkha by Alankrita Shrivastav.”
Jio MAMI with Star, Festival Director, Anupama Chopra averred, “This year, the JIO MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star will also be bigger and hopefully better. The MAMI Movie Mela will now be 2 days. Our section for children Half Ticket will be open to the public on certain days. Our experimental film section is now called The New Medium. It includes some very exciting titles that offer new ways of seeing film. We also have a Word to Screen Market, which puts book publishers & content creators into the same room. And our book award now includes books on cinema in Hindi also. The festival will screen over 175 films from 54 countries. The festival is going to be a movie feast. This is an inclusive film festival so no matter what your taste is – there will be a film for you.”
Jio MAMI with Star, Creative Director, Smriti Kiran averred, “With every passing year, we at Jio MAMI with Star strive to bring exciting programmes that will appeal to everyone; from filmgoers to aspiring filmmakers. To continue this tradition, the festival will introduce new programmes & screenings that will bring the best of cinema around the world to Mumbai. We have some of the greatest minds in the global film industry joining us in championing the festival. While the film screenings remain at the heart of the festival, the roster this year will also feature programmes that will touch upon varied aspects of the entertainment industry. We are thrilled to announce Jio MAMI with Star 2016 programming line-up with you and we look forward to putting up a spectacular show!”
Starting 19th August, when the call for entries was announced, the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star received an unprecedented number of entries for the movies this time. The jury members selected the best films and have taken a decision to screen nearly 180 films in feature/documentary/short films categories.
The festival, as it does every year, identifies the contribution of great minds in the world of cinema. The “Excellence in Cinema Award” provides a great opportunity to highlight, applaud & promote works of such individuals. This year, the Indian “Excellence in Cinema Award” will be conferred to the noted director & screenwriter of several award winning movies like Sparsh & Chashme Baddoor, Sai Paranjpye. The Government of India awarded Sai with the Padma Bhushan title in 2006 in recognition of her artistic talents. Jia Zhangke, known as the leading figure of the “Sixth Generation” movement in Chinese Cinema and one of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers working today will be the recipient of the “International Excellence in Cinema Award”.
What’s new at Jio MAMI Film Festival with Star this year: After receiving an overwhelming response last year, Jio MAMI with Star brings back Movie Mela for 2 days!
A special program curated for young audiences, Half Ticket opens to public this year. The festival introduces New Medium, a special category dedicated to art house cinema. Jio MAMI’s 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star launches a “Word to Screen” Market. Other Important Announcements made: Opening Ceremony of the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star to be held at the Royal Opera House. Jio MAMI with Star to Open with Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut, A Death in the Gunj. Jio MAMI with Star to screen yesteryear film directors & legends, Bimal Roy & P. K. Nair’s films. Actress Sonam Kapoor joins Jio MAMI with Star as Word to Screen Brand Ambassador. Campaign film of Jio MAMI with Star directed by Vasan Bala
The Competition Categories are India Gold,
International Competition & Dimensions Mumbai. Non-Competition Categories: Country Focus (Turkey), Rendezvous, World Cinema, India Story, Discovering India, MAMI Tribute (International & India) & Restored Classics
The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star is an inclusive movie feast. We showcase the latest cutting-edge, independent cinema – art house fare alongside genre movies from Bollywood & Hollywood & also cult international movies. We offer the best of world cinema to the people of Mumbai and we offer the best of Indian cinema to the world. The festival is run by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image popularly known as MAMI. This is a space where we revel in the sheer pleasure of cinema, the joy it gives us and how much it enhances our lives. The goal is to nurture and ignite a passion for movies. We want Jio MAMI to be shorthand for excellence in cinema.
The financial capital of India is also the epicentre of the Indian film industry. The city plays such a major role in production & dissemination of Indian films & television programs that it is widely known by its acronym “Bollywood”. In 1997, a group of film industry stalwarts headed by late Hrishikesh Mukherjee founded the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) as a not-for-profit Trust. Their main objective was to organise an annual International Film Festival which the film industry and the country could be proud of. MAMI has been organising the festival for the last 16 years and aims to foster a climate of good cinema. MAMI engages people from all walks of life across the city & country that enjoy & love good cinema. It is Mumbai’s only film festival that is entirely created and run by film professionals and a group of members from corporate India. Appreciation of good cinema, stripped off all the limiting labels of art & commercial, can only come about through exposure to the best of films the world has to offer. The Festival is the 1st step in that direction.
In their Mission Statement in 1997, the MAMI Board of Trustees had averred, “We feel it is the need of the hour to disseminate & inculcate good cinema amongst the Indian audiences. The only way to achieve this is to celebrate cinema by hosting an International Film Festival in Mumbai, India’s film & entertainment capital. MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image) is committed to start Mumbai’s 1st independent international film festival organized by practicing film makers.”
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For more information on Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star scheduled to be held from 20th October- 27th October 2016, do visit the official website.
