Mumbai: Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, known for bringing the best of contemporary cinema and talent from different parts of the world to the city of Mumbai, is all set to have some exciting additions to its 2023 edition. This year, Jio MAMI is collaborating with Civic Studios, a production house that creates entertainment focused on social change, to spark impactful conversations at the festival.
The festival will include a new award called the Lights Camera Impact Award, presented by Civic Studios. This award will recognise and spotlight two engaging short films focusing on subjects of climate, sexuality, and caste. The intent is to award films with engaging short films that spark conversation on oft-ignored, socially relevant topics. Each winner receives a trophy and a cash prize of INR 1,00,000, to be presented to the directors. This award will encourage storytellers who are using their medium to tell powerful, meaningful stories.
As part of this collaboration, the festival will also host a climate change-themed party titled “Too Hot to Handle.” Loosely based on the “climate fresk” parties taking Europe by storm, the party aims to bring the topic of climate change centre stage through a fun, engaging event format while fostering a can-do spirit about the future. This event will have renowned comic Abish Mathew hosting a climate change-themed game show and a walk-through exhibit on climate action stories. Targeted at film industry insiders in India, it seeks to boost climate literacy and raise awareness on how filmmakers can contribute positively as artists and filmmakers to the climate change conversation. The event itself will aim to be a zero-waste event.
The festival will also host a thought-provoking panel discussion to explore the methods and strategies employed in mounting documentary and fiction feature projects that drive extended community engagement and use cinema as a powerful tool for social change.
Civic Studios founder Anushka Shah shared her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We believe in the transformative power of cinema, and partnering with an important platform like MAMI is a tremendous opportunity to bring that to life. The Lights Camera Impact award is an initiative to highlight and encourage fresh talent driven towards social impact, while the climate change party is a way for all of us to learn and take action while having a good time.”
Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival artistic director Deepti DCunha added, “Jio MAMI is committed to showcasing films that not only entertain but also inspire and create discussions. We are excited to have Civic Studios’ on board to support independent filmmakers who use their cinema to spark conversations about social issues.”
Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and Civic Studios partnership promises to be a beacon of hope, inspiring change, and raising awareness on socially relevant issues through the art of filmmaking!
