A session on how cross border collaborations foster new forms of storytelling. Speakers shared the journey of their films and the unique opportunities and challenges that each project presented. Moderated by Anu Rangachar, speakers at the session were Naren Chandavarkar, Payal Kapadia, Ranabir Das, Richa Chaddha, Shuchi Talati. The session was supported by the Institut Français en Inde. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

A conversation about adopting sustainable practices in film production by showcasing the successful real-world experiences of speakers. Moderated by Anupama Mandloi, speakers at the session were Akshay Chowdhary, Gaurav Bhatia, Shashi Bala, Siddhartha Nakai. The session was supported by Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

Dwelling on the experience of film practitioners, the session explored learnings that filmmakers need to be empowered with, before they enter the market, and innovative ways to strategise release and distribution of an Independent title. Moderated by Mayank Shekhar, speakers at the session were Bauddhayan Mukherji, Rana Daggubati, Ranjan Singh, Sarita Patil. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

The newly signed co-production treaty between India and Australia opens up possibilities for filmmakers to explore collaborations between the two countries. Taking from the experience of filmmakers who have mounted international co-productions and those who have shot in Australia and India, the session highlighted the benefits that co-productions bring to a project, as well as new opportunities, including rebates and subsidies, that are now available for studios and production houses. Moderated by Vanita Kohli-Khandekar, speakers at the session were Aditi Anand, Andy Barclay, Ian Collie. The session was supported by the Australian Consulate General in Mumbai. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

This masterclass by advocate Akshat Agrawal outlined the rights of a filmmaker and other stakeholders who facilitate a film's distribution lifecycle when it makes its way to the market. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

A conversation geared towards understanding the real-world application of AI in filmmaking - as it exists now and the direction it might take. Moderated by Vikramaditya Motwane, speakers at the session included Akshat Agrawal, Arpan Gaglani, Mahak Gupta, Prateek Arora. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

The HEMA committee report on the Malayalam film industry has sparked discussions about safety, worker rights, and guild mandates. At the session, film professionals addressed workplace equity and human rights issues, aiming to implement systems that promote progression and inclusion across all project stages. Moderated by Sonia Filinto, speakers at the session were Priya Sreedharan, Sahana Manjesh, Satyanshu Singh. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

Dwelling on their respective filmmaking journeys, the speakers lent their insights on depictions of gender and sexuality, taking forward the discourse while also delivering a compelling cinematic experience. Moderated by Shriya Pilgaonkar, speakers at the session were Rima Das, Shahana Goswami, Shuchi Talati, Vipin Radhakrishnan. The session was supported by British Council. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

The session brought together film practitioners who have found unique ways of filming and technicians who have built a career enabling soaring ideas, to discuss ways in which resources can be optimised to scale up a project while keeping a check on budgets. Moderated by Suchin Mehrotra, speakers at the session were Amit Masurkar, Naren Chandavarkar, Parul Sondh, Sidharth Meer. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

This masterclass by lawyer and legal consultant Sahana Manjesh examined the varying nature of agreements with investors, co-producers, studios and distributors and provided a practical guide for independent filmmakers to navigate the intricate legal landscape of securing funding, while protecting their creative vision. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

Attaining a genre status unto itself, the short film format allows for latitude to experiment with form and storytelling. The session explored what shorts achieve for filmmakers who have created remarkable short films and found an audience for them. Which raises the question - what are the distribution channels for short films? Moderated by Prathyush Parasuraman, speakers at the session were Avinash Arun Dhaware, Ravi Shankar Muppa, Reema Sengupta. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

Some of the biggest theatrical hits of 2024 were driven by modest budgets and starring upcoming names. The films registered stellar theatrical runs by delivering the rare community viewing experience that once was critical to box office success. At the session, filmmakers shared their experiences and contemplated the future for theatrical releases in the coming years. Moderated by Monica Wahi, speakers at the session were Aditya Sarpotdar, Chidambaram, Gayatri Gulati, Sohum Shah. The Industry Programme was hosted by MAMI in collaboration with the festival’s community partner, Soho House Mumbai.

The 2024 edition of the festival ended on 24th October 2024 with a Closing Ceremony where winners of various categories were announced and felicitated. This included the Golden Gateway Award, Silver Gateway Award, NETPAC Award, Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award, Young Critics Choice Award, Dimensions Mumbai Gold Award, Dimensions Silver Award, Best Book on Cinema Award, Rashid Irani Best Young Critic Award.

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival paid homage to its founder Sudhir Nandgaonkar with a memorial lecture by renowned lyricist and singer Swanand Kirkire. The topic of the lecture was ‘Lyrics of the Past and Present: An Historical Overview.’

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival paid homage to Kumar Shahani, a pioneer of the Indian New Wave in the 1970s, by screening his film ‘Tarang’ (1984). This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by film scholar Ashish Rajadhyaksha. Speakers were Mita Vashisht, Rajat Kapoor, Avijit Mukul Kishore, Paresh Kamdar and Vikram Joglekar.

Acting legend Shabana Azmi in conversation with National Award-winning actor Vidya Balan about her illustrious career, as she completes 50 years in cinema this year. The masterclass was followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

‘All We Imagine as Light’ was the opening film of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024. Film Critic Anupama Chopra interviewed the director, Payal Kapadia post-screening about the journey of making the first-ever Indian film to be selected in Main Competition at Cannes in over three decades.

The opening ceremony of the festival was held at Regal Cinema, Colaba on 18th October 2024, kicking off six days of cinema, culture, community. The Excellence in Cinema Award was presented to Shabana Azmi by Waheeda Rehman, celebrating the actor’s 50 glorious years in cinema. The Opening Film of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 was ‘All We Imagine as Light’ by Payal Kapadia, which won the Cannes Grand Prix 2024. The director was present along with her cast and crew for the Opening.

Press Conference of three filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Avinash Prakash - Naangal (This is Us)
Akshay Shah - Zende
Prasanth Vijay - Daayam (Inheritance)

Moderator - Srikanth Srinivasan

The grand finale of the festival was organised on 3 November 2023 featuring a closing ceremony that mirrors the glamour and prestige of the opening night. The awards ceremony announced the winners of the South Asia Competition along with the IMDb Audience Choice Award, awards by the Rashid Irani Young Critics Lab, Film Critics Guild, Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema (NETPAC), and Civic Studios.

Press Conference with Director and the crew of Rainbow Rishta at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023

Creator - Jaydeep Sarkar

Moderator - Navin Noronha

Aparshakti Khurrana, Niharika NM, Dolly Singh, Yashraj Mukhate, Karan Boolani discuss the various facets of creation and virality that each of them navigates. Moderated by Saima Iqbal, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, presented in collaboration with Brut.

Press Conference of four filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's World Cinema section.

Vera Egito - The Battle
Asmae El Moudir - The Mother of All Lies
Miko Revereza - Nowhere Near
Patiparn Boontarig - Solids by the Seashore

Moderator - Paolo Bertolin

Press Conference of four filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's South Asia Competition and Focus South Asia sections.

Harshad Nalawade - Follower
Sreejith Karanaver - Aiz Maka Falea Tuka
Shrutismriti Changkakoti - Before Spring
Jaishankar Aryar - Shivamma

Moderator - Nithin Manayath

At Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023, Lisa Joy in conversation with Suchin Mehrotra shares knowledge about long-format writing for episodic content, crafting compelling pitches and navigating the dynamic world of a writers' room.

Australian filmmaker and writer David Michôd talks about his journey, working with OTT platforms, the joy of creating movies and the business of filmmaking with Paolo Bertolin at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023.

Jio MAMI paid tribute to the Founder Festival Director of MAMI, Sudhir Nandgaonkar by introducing Sudhir Nandgaonkar Memorial Lecture. The lecture topic, delivered by Girish Kasaravalli, was is ‘The Contribution of Film Societies to Indian Cinema'.

Press Conference of six filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's World Cinema section.

Savanah Leaf - Earth Mama
Annie Ohayon - Orlando, My Political Biography
Amjad Al-Rasheed - Inshallah a Boy
Tommaso Santambrogio - Oceans Are the Real Continents
Ismail Basbeth - Sara
Nehir Tuna - Dormitory

Moderator - Devika Girish

Press Conference of four filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Omkar Phatak - Goodbye, Hello
Milind Dhaimade - Mai
Shailesh Singh - Melody Day
Samrat Dasgupta - XO

Moderator - Rahul Desai

Press Conference of five filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's South Asia Competition section.

Sarvnik Kaur - Against the Tide
Dibakar Das Roy - Dilli Dark
Saurav Rai - Guras
Dominic Sangma - Rimdogittanga
Jayant Somalkar - Sthal

Moderator - Ratheesh Radhakrishnan

Anjum Rajabali, Shakun Batra, Atika Chohan, Caleb Franklin, Priyanka Khimani, and Zama Habib engage in a discussion highlighting the significance of writers' rights and the proactive steps writers can take to safeguard their interests. They explore strategies for writers to avoid being unfairly truncated in their contributions. The panel also delves into how producers can adopt a more inclusive and considerate approach when crafting contracts with writers. Moderated by Vanita Kohli Khandekar, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

The session hosted by Climate Ready Leaders at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 engaged in a conversation about how climate is more than a disaster story. The panel will cut through the jargon and provide storytellers a new lens to look at content across various genres.

In this workshop, Zena Harris talks about sustainability in the context of show productions. Through immersive case studies, she showcases how eco-conscious choices can lead to both artistic and environmental triumphs. Learn about the profound impact that the entertainment industry wields and how embracing sustainability can drive meaningful change for our planet.

She spoke about how to plan for sustainable production, including collecting, measuring and
interpreting carbon data, how to use free tools such as carbon calculators and how to implement solutions that reduce emissions and waste.

Press Conference of five filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Marathi Talkies section.

Varun Narvekar - 1234
Kedar Shinde - Baipan Bhari Deva
Riteish Deshmukh - Ved
Sujay Dahake - Shyamchi Aai
Ashish Bende - Aatmapamphlet

Moderator - Sachin Chatte

Press Conference with Director and the cast of Hajamat at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023

Creator - Akhil Sachdeva

Moderator - Vyom Charaya

The Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023 hosted sustainability session held by India Greenset. The panelists spoke of eco-anxiety, climate messaging, the growing mandate for sustainability and the need to share more stories and experiences.

Rasika Dugal, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Sayani Gupta, and Maanvi Gagroo delve into their experiences and the processes that define their creative journeys in the industry. Moderated by Rohini Ramnathan, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, presented in collaboration with MAC Cosmetics India.

Press Conference with Director and the cast of Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023

Director - Rajat Kapoor
Moderator - Baradwaj Rangan

Press Conference of three filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Aniket Kumar - D-Grade se A-Grade Tak (The Blessed and The Damned)
Pranjal Dua - The Flamingos And Other Migratory Birds Tour
Sean Sankalp Raju - Nazar (The Gaze)

Moderator - Poulomi Das

Press Conference of two filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Rajesh S. Jala - Chingari (The Spark)
Anand Ekarshi - Aattam (The Play)

Moderator - Ratheesh Radhakrishnan

Renowned Filmmaker Mira Nair brought her cinematic wisdom to the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival . Known for classics like “Monsoon Wedding” and “Salaam Bombay!”. Nair’s impact on indian and global cinema is significant . She explored overcoming challenges as a female filmmaker, using culture as a medium to enrich the art of filmmaking.

Sanjay Bhutiani and Kyoko Dan discuss the journey of the film 'Mukti Bhavan' from the written word to the screen and its tremendous response in Japan. Moderated by Naman Ramachandran, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

Shibashish Sarkar, Mayank Shroff, and Akkshay Rathie engage in a discussion about the challenges faced in distributing independent films in India and explore future strategies to propel independent cinema to the forefront. Moderated by Liz Shackleton, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

Press Conference of six filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia and After Dark sections.

Date: 30 October, 2023

Sumi Mathai - Ullarivu
Bidushi Giri - Chiso Ghar
Ayarush Paudel - Helena
Yudhajit Basu - Nehemich
Rathindran R. Prasad - Amilam
Virat Pal - Night of the Bride

Moderator - Poulomi Das

Vishal Bhardwaj, Sujoy Ghosh, Sudip Sharma, Apoorva Bakshi, Raj Nidimoru, and Krishna DK discuss the bold choices they had to make while bringing their stories to life in films and shows.

Moderated by Rohini Ramnathan, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

Press Conference of five filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Icons: South Asia section.

Vikramaditya Motwane - Indi(r)a's Emergency
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki - Something like an Autobiography
Prasanna Vithanage - Paradise
Gurvinder Singh - "Trolley Times"
Nabin Subba - Gau Ayeko Bato (A Road to a Village)

Moderated by Meenakshi Shedde

Press Conference of three filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Sreemoyee Singh - Be Kucheye Khoshbakht (And, Toward Happy Alleys)
Chhatrapal Ninawe - Ghaath (Ambush)
Karan Tejpal - Stolen

Moderator - Srikanth Srinivasan

Press Conference of four filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's South Asia Competition and three from the World Cinema section.

Kanu Behl - Agra
Sumanth Bhat - Mithya
Fazil Razak - Thadavu
Diwa Shah - Bahadur - The Brave
Nina Ognjanović - Where the Road Leads
Anaïs Tellenne - The Dreamer
Sophie Letourneur - Voyages en Italie

Moderator - Ratheesh Radhakrishnan

Press Conference of five filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Marathi Talkies section.

Alvina Joshi - Azobancha Ghar

Digvijay Andhorikar - Gulmohar

Pradyumna Patil - Blackhole

Bharatbala Ganapathy - Bhandara

Shivaji Karde - Bhatti

Moderator - Sachin Chatte

Italian film director Luca Guadagnino delves into his filmmaking gaze, creative process, casting in a masterclass with Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 Festival Director Anupama Chopra.

Press Conference of four filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Vinod Rawat - Pushtaini (Ancestral)
Kanchan Pant - Dear Latika
Varun Grover - All India Rank
Raghuvir Joshi - Sahela (Companion)

Moderator - Srikanth Srinivasan

Press Conference of four filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's South Asia Competition section.

Leesa Gazi - Barir Naam Shahana
Fidel Devkota - The Red Suitcase
Selman Nacar - Hesitation Wound
Sepideh Farsi - The Siren

Moderator - Srikanth Srinivasan

Dolby Atmos® immersive audio and Dolby Vision® HDR technology opens up a whole new creative palette to bring your creative vision to life and deliver spectacular experiences. That’s why the world’s leading studios, content creators, streaming services, broadcasters, and device manufacturers have embraced Dolby. Raj Vartak and Bhaskar Pal talk about how the technology has helped creators at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas speaks with Bhumi Pednekar at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 on the changing face of Indian cinema, highlighting the empowerment of women in leading roles, the impact of streaming services, and the global reach of Indian stories. They delve into their personal journeys, discuss challenges and milestones, and emphasize the need for inclusivity and innovation in Bollywood.

Ramesh Sippy, Karan Anshuman, Wayne Borg, and Shakun Batra discuss their experiences shooting abroad. They explore the impact of shifting boundaries and new regulations, which have introduced a heightened level of stringency. Additionally, the conversation delves deeper into the exceptional facilities that NEOM provides, supporting filmmakers in creating top-notch films. Moderated by Rohan Sippy, this panel was part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

The introduction of Jio MAMI's new programme for participating filmmakers to encourage an exchange of ideas, sharing of knowledge and experiences, and building a community. Followed by a presentation of Berlin International Film Festival by Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian, and consultant and curator Meenakshi Shedde.

Mahsa Motamedi, Adam Dawtrey, Ali Fazal, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra discuss their experiences shooting abroad and the challenges encountered, such as permissions and rebates. They delve into how AlUla effectively addresses and resolves many of these issues. Moderated by Sucharita Tyagi, this panel was a part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

Acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam speaks with Imtiaz Ali about what inspires him starting from Akira Kurosawa's 'Rashomon', his love for shooting in India, and being true to his creative vision in a masterclass at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023.

Press Conference of six filmmakers from Jio MAMI 2023's Focus South Asia section.

Date: 28 October, 2023

Taruna Khatri - Farther than Distance
Moe Myat May Zarchi - Pha-Yar-Sin (The Altar)
Pranjal Acharya & Anant Jain - Aakhiri Tukda (The Last Fragment)
Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar - Flowering Man
Aayushman Pandey - Kamathipura

Moderator - Rahul Desai

The festival kicked off on 27 October 2023, with a glamorous red carpet event, setting the stage for a star-studded evening. The opening ceremony was a grand affair, where the winners of various categories, including Dimensions Mumbai, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, Books on Cinema, and the Rashid Irani Young Critics’ Lab, were celebrated. The Lifetime Achievement Awards were bestowed upon the illustrious Aruna Vasudev, Uma da Cunha, and Nasreen Munni Kabir.