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Tag: MAMI

  • Amazon Prime Video and MAMI launch ‘Maitri: Female First Collective’

    Amazon Prime Video and MAMI launch ‘Maitri: Female First Collective’

    Mumbai: Amazon Prime Video has partnered with Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) to launch ‘Maitri: Female First Collective.’

    The aim of the initiative is to build a community for women in media and entertainment where they can come together on a quarterly basis to discuss their experiences, challenges and successes and offer their perspective and advice on how to bring about a positive shift, said the statement.

    The highlights of the sessions will be available on Amazon Prime Video India’s YouTube channel and MAMI’s YouTube channel and their respective social media platforms.

    The first episode featuring 16 women who participated in the debut session went live on Friday. These women include Junglee Pictures and Times Studios Originals CEO Amrita Pandey; screenwriter and hairstylist Ayesha DeVitre Dhillon; screenwriter and author Bhavani Iyer; filmmaker Gayathri; filmmaker Jeeva; screenwriter Juhi Chaturvedi; filmmaker Kunjila Mascillamani; actor and TV host Mini Mathur; filmmaker Nupur Asthana; actor and producer Richa Chadha; filmmaker Rintu Thomas; actor and producer Shweta Tripathi Sharma; comedian, actor, writer, creator, and CE-HOE founder Sumukhi Suresh; filmmaker and author Tahira Kashyap Khurrana; Amazon Prime Video head of India Originals Aparna Purohit, and artistic director of MAMI Smriti Kiran – who curated the room and moderated the discussion.

    “At Amazon, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion, is not just needed, it is essential, and we are constantly trying to go beyond intention to institutionalize processes and mechanisms to create an ecosystem that mirrors true diversity,” said Prime Video’s Aparna Purohit. “Maitri means friendship or kinship, and the idea behind this initiative was to create a space for women to get together as friends, contemporaries and colleagues to collaborate, communicate and pave the way for others to follow.  I believe that making an impactful change takes time, and can only happen when we begin to have a conversation regularly and repeatedly. I am glad that we have taken this small, yet significant step with the help of MAMI.”

    “I have immense faith in collaboration, community building and shared experience,” said Maitri creator and curator Smriti Kiran. “It was invigorating to bring the first room for Maitri: Female First Collective together. The idea behind Maitri is togetherness. Very grateful to Aparna Purohit and Amazon Prime Video for seeing value in this vision and giving Maitri the support that it needs to soar.”

    In June last year, Amazon Studios had released the inclusion policy and playbook, which is being gradually rolled out across the organisation.

  • Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) partners with Edelman India to drive the PR and Digital mandate for the 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star

    Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) partners with Edelman India to drive the PR and Digital mandate for the 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star

    MUMBAI: Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), India’s leading platform for cinematic disruption and discovery, has appointed Edelman India to drive their Public Relations and Digital mandate for the upcoming edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star. The mandate focuses on driving strategic communication programmes for their annual property, the film festival. Edelman’s extensive experience in building brands and the firm’s expertise in running large format events, makes this an apt partnership.

    MAMI was founded in 1997 by renowned film professionals from the Indian Film Industry to create an annual international film festival in India that brings the best of cinema to the audience and also creates a world class film festival that can find a pride place in the film festival map of the world. This edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star will celebrate its 20th year milestone.

    Apart from the festival, the academy curates and runs a unique Year-Round Programme that sustains conversations around cinema throughout the year and makes cutting edge cinema from India and across the world available to audiences year-round.

    With its experienced team of media strategists, content creators and creative thinkers, Edelman is strongly poised to drive communications for the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star and help it engage with a wide audience.

    Creative Director – MAMI, Smriti Kiran said, “We are taking steps every year to strengthen our footprint and also strengthen the organization. For us, the next five years are years of institution building. A consummate film space does not exist in India and this is the one opportunity we have to create that entity. Getting Edelman on board is a step in this direction. They are one of the best integrated communications agencies in India comprising of Digital and PR professionals rooted in content. That is what we need. Disseminators who have a deep understanding of the work we do. I believe they will take the festival and the academy to the next level.”

    “We have a national team that understands the mechanics of driving successful large-format events well. Managing multiple stakeholders, conversations and expectations, while telling a compelling and coherent story is a skill that our teams have developed over the years. Our earned-centric thinking and deep local understanding will help us craft a strong programme for the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star and we’re truly excited about this partnership,” said Himanshu Saxena, Brand Head, Edelman India.

  • PVR Cinemas pilots the Delhi Edition of the Year Round Programme by MAMI

    PVR Cinemas pilots the Delhi Edition of the Year Round Programme by MAMI

    MUMBAI: PVR Cinemas, with its storied history of becoming the leading exhibitor and an eminent platform for all things cinematic launched the Year Round Programme by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) in Delhi.

    An epic city-wide celebration of global filmmaking culture and star-studded special screening at PVR ECX, Chanakya marked the official curtain call of the programme’s Delhi Edition. The two-day launch event premiered two of the most sought-after films of the year – Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs and Ari Aster’s Hereditary on the 9th & 10th of June 2018 ahead of their India release. 

    The launch party was officially opened by Ajay Bijli, Managing Director, PVR Ltd and Sanjeev Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Ltd; along with Board Members of MAMI – Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bharadwaj and the leadership team of MAMI – Anupama Chopra and Smriti Kiran bringing the best and latest films from all over the world to a city that has always spearheaded support in cultivating art and culture.

    PVR Ltd, Managing Director, Ajay Bijli said “Year Round Programme by MAMI represents one of the first opportunities for audiences in Delhi to see the very best from across the globe. This was a natural progression for us to support. PVR has always encouraged and facilitated people to build a relationship with a broad range of films, ensuring that film culture can be accessed and enjoyed by everyone across. With this launch, PVR aspires to bring together distinguished industry specialists and discerning movie lovers through accessible screenings, panels, workshops and showcasing cinema that embraces diversity, innovation and unique perspectives. Aimed at featuring critically acclaimed filmmakers, industry professionals, and award-winning talent around the world, this programme is rich with opportunity – to stay informed, be challenged, feel the pleasure of escape and see the world differently.”

    Anupama Chopra said, “I am thrilled that in the 20th year of MAMI, we are stepping out of Mumbai. We hope we can help foster a great cinema culture in Delhi. Thank you PVR for all your support.”

    PVR Ltd, Joint Managing Director, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli said “We are delighted to partner with MAMI and launch a screening event in the national capital, Delhi. Led by Kiran Rao, Anupama Chopra and Smriti Kiran, MAMI has established itself as a premier film festival and is recognized globally as a platform to showcase some of the best cinema in the world. From the red carpet premiers, to the carefully selected and curated films, it’s an event that everyone looks forward to. At PVR, we are proud of our ongoing association, and it gives us immense pleasure to be able to bring this to our ardent fans of great cinema in Delhi.” 

    MAMI, Creative Director, Smriti Kiran said “We are so thrilled to get the MAMI Year Round Programme to the film lovers in Delhi! Our commitment is to showcase the best of the cinema for movie lovers and create a strong film culture in the city. To alter sensibility, you have to engage regularly and facilitate viewers to celebrate and dissect, discuss and debate, engage and argue, agree and disagree about what they love most: Cinema. We are grateful to PVR Cinemas for being the MAMI champions and partnering with us yet again in our endeavour to nurture audiences and build a cinema viewing culture for the cinephiles in the country. We have big plans for Dilli!”

    The MAMI Year Round Programme launched in 2016 in Mumbai, is a one of a kind film programme started with the belief that it is not enough to have a week-long film festival. The Academy now hosts weekly screenings, workshops and conversation sessions for film lovers in the country. This has given us a year-long imprint and presence as opposed to presence only for a week in the year. Through this unique curation, passionate movie nuts can sign up and get free access to the best and latest Indian and International films throughout the year. 

    What makes the Delhi Edition even more special is that it will happen at the newly launched PVR ECX, Chanakyapuri. The property holds great nostalgic value for Delhiites as it is the brand new avatar of the iconic Chanakya cinema showcasing a wide spectrum of great content that is the cornerstone of MAMI. 

    Till date, The MAMI Year Round Programme in Mumbai has screened over 40 films which include Lady Bird, The Square, Zama, The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missourie and Village Rockstars. There are about 7000+ members enrolled for this programme.

  • Two internationally renowned Indian films get country premiere at MAMI

    Two internationally renowned Indian films get country premiere at MAMI

    NEW DELHI: Two Indian films that made their mark in foreign film festivals saw their Indian premiere at the ongoing 19th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival: The Song Of Scorpions by the renowned Anup Singh and Village Rockstars by director Rima Das.

    While The Song Of Scorpions premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival 2017, Village Rockstars was the only Indian film to be selected for the competition category, Discovery, at theToronto International Film Festival 2017.

    Singh, whose film Qissa – The Tale of a lonely Ghost has already won several awards globally, says his film The Song Of Scorpions was prompted by the tragic incident of the Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi in 2012.

    He also added that the character of Nooran was inspired by his observation of watching a certain section of women singers in rural Rajasthan. These are singers that sing compositions based on the birth of a child and other such rituals but are not allowed to perform in public.

    Singh was responding to questions after the screening of The Song Of Scorpions starring Irrfan Khan, Golshifteh Farahani and Waheeda Rehman opened to a packed response at its Indian premiere at the 19th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The film has been selected in the Spotlight Category at the festival.

    The film, which had its world premiere at the Locarno International Film Festival 2017, is a Swiss-French-Singaporean co-production and has been produced by Saskia Vischer and Shahaf Peled for Feather Light Films, Michel Merkt for KNM in association with Thierry Lenouvel for France’s Cine Sud Promotion and Singapore based Aurora Holdings and M Capital Ventures.

    Village Rockstars is the story of Dhunu, a girl who grows up in poverty and learns to fend for herself. However, that does not prevent her from following her dream of forming a rock band and owning a guitar someday.

    The premiere was attended by Rima Das and the kids who have acted in the film including Das’ niece Bhanita Das who plays Dhunu. Most of the cast members of the film are non actors including Bhanita and the other kids who hail from Rima Das’ native village in Assam.

    This is the first premiere that the cast of the film has ever attended. It is also the first time that they had travelled out of their hometown. And it was a dream come true for them as they watched themselves on screen including Dhunu who also admitted that she wants to become an actress.

    Also present at the premiere was Pan Nalin, director of the TIFF 2015 People’s Choice Award winner Angry Indian Goddesses.

    Village Rockstars has also been nominated for Oxfam Best Film on Gender Equality Award 2017 at the 19th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.The film was an official selection at Film Bazaar Recommends (at NFDC Film Bazaar 2016), 2017 Marche du Film (Cannes) Work-In-Progress, San Sebastian International Film Festival 2017 and 2oth International Children’s Film Festival. It is also the closing film at the 2017 Dharamshala International Film Festival.

    The Song of Scorpions is Singh’s third feature film is a story of twisted love, revenge and the redemptive power of a song. Nooran (Golshifteh Farahani), carefree and defiantly independent, is a tribal woman learning the ancient art of healing from her grandmother, a revered scorpion-singer. When Aadam (Khan), a camel trader in the Rajasthan desert, hears her sing, he falls desperately in love. But, even before they can get to know each other better, Nooran is poisoned by a treachery that sets her on a perilous journey to avenge herself and find her song.

    The Indian premiere was attended by Singh, producers Saskia Vicher and Shahaf Peled apart from the cast members of the film which included Shefali Bhushan, Sara Arjun and Kritika Pande. Besides this, actor Rasika Dugal who had starred in Singh’s Qissa – The Tale Of A Lonely Ghost had also attended the screening.

    The film marks the second collaboration of Singh and Khan after the much acclaimed Qissa and also marks the comeback of legendary actress Waheeda Rehman. The Song of Scorpions was also an official selection at the 2017 BFI London Film Festival.

    It is also the second feature film of Singh that has been chosen as an Official Selection at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Qissa had won the award for the Second Best Film in the India Gold competition category in the 2013 edition of the festival.

    The Indian premiere also coincided with the 70th year of the Swiss-Indian Treaty of Friendship and was attended by Martin J. Beinz, the Consul General of Switzerland in Mumbai.

    Talking about the lead actors, the director mentioned how Golshifteh Farahani’s recounting of her experiences of her life in Iran and post her exile from Iran convinced him that she was the perfect choice for the character of Nooran. Similarly, Khan’s ability to depict the good and bad side of a person with the right balance gave Singh the confidence to cast Khan for the role of Aadam.

  • Sundance, World Cinema award-winning Indian docu ‘Machines’ to premiere at MAMI

    Sundance, World Cinema award-winning Indian docu ‘Machines’ to premiere at MAMI

    MUMBAI: After making the World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2017 and bagging the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for excellence in Cinematography, Rahul Jain’s internationally acclaimed directorial debut documentary feature, Machines to make its India Premiere in the competition category, India Gold in Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI), 2017.

    Jain says, “I am happy to bring Machines in the place where it was made. I am really looking forward to the film’s reception in India. And what better a place for that than MAMI itself.”

    The film will also be screened at Dharamshala International Film Festival, 2017. The documentary is a sensorial and kaleidoscopic meditation on the meaning of labor in an Indian textile sweatshop.

    The film was selected as one of the Work-in-Progress Lab projects at NFDC’s Film Bazaar 2015 from where it got picked by international buyers and started its film festival journey.

    Since then, the internationally acclaimed docu-feature has been screened and won awards in over 50 prestigious film festivals including Sundance Film Festival.

    The film produced by Jain (Jann Pictures) and co-produced by 
Likka Vehkalahti (IV FILMS LTD), Thanassis Karathanos (Pallas Film) has released theatrically in across the world.

    Synopsis: Our technological times enable us to reduce working hours like never before in human civilization. But, the reduction of effort by technology is a first world reality, where relatively comparable technology with lesser material infrastructure could do the same for a much higher mass of the population.

    ‘Machines’ attempts to examine the experiential reality of factory culture and labor processes through temporal observation. Rather than documenting chronology or history, it creates a portrait of the breathing rhythms of the humans who inhabit the labyrinths of the textile factory with its machines.

    Background: India has domestic migration issues. There is historical inequality in the Indian government’s push for the development of industrial infrastructure. This has led to cases of extreme poverty and wealth being generated in particular states, leading to mass migrations for employment.

    Film Festival journey and Awards: Institute of Contemporary Art – New York City. Frames of Representation – Opening Film. CPH DoX Denmark — Best Film. Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece – Best Film. Greek Hellenic Parliamentary Award — Human Rights Award. International documentary festival of Amsterdam – Netherlands – Producers Award. Documenta Madrid – Spain — Best Film. Docs Barcelona – Spain – Best Film. MakeDox – Macedonia – Best Moral Approach Award.

  • Tu Hai Mera Sunday to premiere at London Film Fest

    Tu Hai Mera Sunday to premiere at London Film Fest

    NEW DELHI: Milind Dhaimade’s directorial debut feature Tu Hai Mera Sunday (You Are My Sunday!) will have its world premiere at the 60th British Film Institute’s London Film Festival in the `Love’ section on 15 and 16 October 2016.

    The film will have its India premiere at the Jio MAMI’s 18th Mumbai Film Festival 2016 in the competition category – “India Gold”.

    Produced by Varun Shah, the movie features TV star Barun Sobti (Is Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon fame) along with Shahana Goswami, Rasika Dugal (Qissa, Manto fame) Avinash Tiwari, Vishal Malhotra, and Maanvi Gagroo (TVF Pitchers & Tripling fame) and is the story of five middle class amateur footballers and their everyday struggle in Mumbai.

    Writer-director Milind said: “A film about five regular guys looking for space in Mumbai finds a spot at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival. This is how happy endings begin.”

    Barun added: “This film has been made with the love for the times we live in. It’ll tell you how to fight for them.”

    Rock on fame Shahana Goswami says “It’s always wonderful to be able to show your films as a part of a larger international selection to an international audience. THMS will show a new world of Indian independent cinema, with a charm and honesty that is truly representative of the urban youth in India.”

    Milind Dhaimade is an ex ad man who quit advertising to make films. In 2010, he along with his wife Rajul, started “Love & Faith” a film making and design company. So far he has directed over 100 TV commercials.

  • Tu Hai Mera Sunday to premiere at London Film Fest

    Tu Hai Mera Sunday to premiere at London Film Fest

    NEW DELHI: Milind Dhaimade’s directorial debut feature Tu Hai Mera Sunday (You Are My Sunday!) will have its world premiere at the 60th British Film Institute’s London Film Festival in the `Love’ section on 15 and 16 October 2016.

    The film will have its India premiere at the Jio MAMI’s 18th Mumbai Film Festival 2016 in the competition category – “India Gold”.

    Produced by Varun Shah, the movie features TV star Barun Sobti (Is Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon fame) along with Shahana Goswami, Rasika Dugal (Qissa, Manto fame) Avinash Tiwari, Vishal Malhotra, and Maanvi Gagroo (TVF Pitchers & Tripling fame) and is the story of five middle class amateur footballers and their everyday struggle in Mumbai.

    Writer-director Milind said: “A film about five regular guys looking for space in Mumbai finds a spot at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival. This is how happy endings begin.”

    Barun added: “This film has been made with the love for the times we live in. It’ll tell you how to fight for them.”

    Rock on fame Shahana Goswami says “It’s always wonderful to be able to show your films as a part of a larger international selection to an international audience. THMS will show a new world of Indian independent cinema, with a charm and honesty that is truly representative of the urban youth in India.”

    Milind Dhaimade is an ex ad man who quit advertising to make films. In 2010, he along with his wife Rajul, started “Love & Faith” a film making and design company. So far he has directed over 100 TV commercials.

  • 17th Mumbai Film Festival 2015 to premiere ‘Mor Mann Ke Bharam’

    17th Mumbai Film Festival 2015 to premiere ‘Mor Mann Ke Bharam’

    MUMBAI: A Chhattisgarhi feature film Mor Mann Ke Bharam, directed by Karma Takapa, Heer Ganjwala and Abhishek Varma has been selected for competition in the India Gold section of the 17th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival, organised by Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI). The festival, which is currently underway, will end on 5 November 2015.

     

    The film is produced by HumanTrail Pictures and Viren Jain in association with IPTA Raigarh. The film is shot in Raigarh town of the Chhattisgarh state in collaboration with the cast from the local theatre group, IPTA Raigarh and other members and the crew from Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

     

    Usha Athaley, Ajay Athaley, Karma P Takapa, Mona Ganjwala, Vinit Ganjwala, Abhishek Varma and Renu Agrawal have jointly co-produced the film. The feature is a story of an author’s struggle between what he wants to write and what others might want to read culminates into a surrealist novel.

     

    The film features four different folk songs of Chhattisgarh, in their original form and uses local motifs embedded in Chhattisgarhi culture that have not found space on the big screen till date.

     

    The main cast includes Ramesh Pani, Aparnaa, Yuvraj Singh Azad and Tinku Devangan. The supporting cast includes Netram Yadav, Vinod Bohidar, Ajay Athaley, Bharat Nishad, Kuldeep Das, Surendra Bareth, Vivekanand Pradhan, Shyam Devkar, Alok Beriya, Tony Chawda, Komal Thakkar, Kathil Painkra, Prem Shankar, Prem Shankar Mishra, Yash Gehlot and Poyam Singh.

     

    Chandradeep Kuldeep has composed the background score, while Rajkumari Kuldeep and Sugita Padihari Das have sung the songs for the film.

  • Eros Knowledge Partners 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

    Eros Knowledge Partners 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

    MUMBAI:  Eros International Media has teamed up with the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival as knowledge partner to recognise and support new talent.

     

    With this association, Eros International aims to strengthen its content strategy of backing good cinema, identifying and rewarding new talent. Furthermore, as knowledge partner the company will also be awarding the Gold category winners at the festival.

     

    Eros International managing director  Sunil Lulla said, “As Knowledge Partner, we saw a synergy in tying up with a significant film platform like MAMI, which showcases the best of Indian and international cinema. It’s a perfect opportunity to build on our vision of being a leading content company and recognising new talent. It’s been a fantastic year with some great commercial and critically acclaimed successes like NH10, Badlapur, Tanu Weds Manu Returns andBajrangi Bhaijaan and associating with MAMI is a step forward in supporting good cinema.”

     

    The 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival director Anupama Chopra added, “We are thrilled to have Eros International as Knowledge Partner. It’s very exciting that a leading studio has joined hands with our film festival to support new talent. I hope that this opens many doors and enables new voices to emerge.”

     

    The opening of the film festival will held on 29 October.

  • Mumbai Film Festival raises Rs 1.5 crore in two days

    Mumbai Film Festival raises Rs 1.5 crore in two days

    MUMBAI: Since the launch of a social media campaign to save the Mumbai Film Festival on 28 August, the festival has raised Rs 1.5 crore of the Rs 5 crore budget required. The campaign started after media reported that the festival had been called off due to lack of funds.

     

    The industry at large has pledged their support in ensuring the 16th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival will yet again be marked on the regions cultural and festival calendar.

     

    Well known producer-directors Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, producers Manish Mundra, Vivek Kajaria and Nilesh Navlakha, director Hansal Mehta and noted author and critic Anupama Chopra amongst numerous others have helped in the funding the film festival.

     

    Speaking on these developments, festival director, Srinivasan Narayan said, “I am extremely happy and humbled with the response that we have been getting from the film industry and film lovers in the city at large. We are delighted and grateful to Cinestaan Film Company, Anand Mahindra, Rohit Khattar and Manish Mundra for their generous contribution. Also we are extremely thankful to Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupama Chopra, Vivek Kajaria and others for ensuring that the festival rises like a Phoenix. Today for the first time ever it truly feels that the Mumbai Film Festival belongs to the patrons and lovers of the festival. I thank each and every one of those who strive to ensure that the festival continues to present the best of World cinema to our Indian audiences”

     

    Cinestaan Film Company, promoted by Anand Mahindra and Rohit Khattar have also stepped in with their support and has committed Rs 60 lakh for the cause.

     

    Talking about the lack of funding in the festival, Cinestaan Film Company chairman Rohit Khattar said, “Anand (Mahindra) & I believe that a festival as important as this should not belong to one sponsor or studio. As the youngest film studio, we would appeal to the larger studios, production houses and, in fact, to all film lovers in Mumbai to take joint ownership. This is our festival and even the smallest contribution would help fulfill our mission. The Mumbai Film Festival has become an integral part of our cinema heritage and as an industry we need to come together to raise it to new heights and nurture it together.”

     

    The Mumbai Film Festival is organised by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) – a trust comprised of Indian film industry stalwarts and was founded in 1997 by late filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal currently heads the organisation.

     

    To contribute, visit http://www.mumbaifilmfest.org/pledge . To contribute via cheque, write to director@mumbaifilmfest.com. The cheque will be collected by a festival representative.