The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 took place between 27 October and 5 November 2023 in Mumbai, India.[1] It was the first in-person edition of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was also the final edition with Anupama Chopra serving as the Festival Director. Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair was named the Head of Jury for the South Asia Competition.[2]
| Opening film | The Buckingham Murders by Hansal Mehta |
|---|---|
| Closing film | Priscilla by Sofia Coppola |
| Location | Mumbai, India |
| Awards | Golden Gateway Award: Against the Tide by Sarvnik Kaur |
| Directors | Anupama Chopra |
| Artistic director | Deepti Dcunha |
| Festival date | Opening: 27 October 2023 Closing: 5 November 2023 |
| Website | www |
Over 250 films were screened during this edition of the festival, with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre serving as the festival hub, and PVR INOX serving as the screening venue partner.[3]
The documentary Against the Tide, directed by filmmaker Sarvnik Kaur, won the Golden Gateway Award, while the feature film Bahadur: The Brave by Diwa Shah won the Silver Gateway Award at the festival.[2]
Background
editFollowing the 21st edition of the festival ("Jio MAMI 21st Mumbai Film Festival with Star"), the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the in-person hosting of the 22nd Mumbai Film Festival in 2020. The in-person event was postponed to 2021, then March 2022, and was eventually cancelled due to 'logistical and financial challenges'.[4]
A number of filmmakers whose films had been chosen for the 22nd edition of the festival protested the cancellation of the event and demanded in-person screenings of their films.[5] However, films from the official selection for this edition of the Mumbai Film Festival were eventually screened online from 24 February to 16 March 2022, in partnership with Shift72.[6]
In February 2023, it was announced that the film festival would be returning as an in-person event later that year, backed by long-standing title partner Jio.[7] This was notably the first edition of the festival to not have the edition number in its title, using the year of the festival instead.
The main competition for this year was limited to filmmakers from South Asian countries (excluding Pakistan[8]) and the South Asian diaspora.[1]
Opening and closing ceremonies
editThe festival's opening ceremony took place on 27 October at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. It was attended by stars from across Indian film industries, including MAMI chairperson Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who presented the Excellence in Cinema Award (International) award to Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino.[9] Indian director Mani Ratnam received the Excellence in Cinema (South Asia) award.[10]
In the opening ceremony, Chopra Jonas championed female filmmakers, describing their contribution to cinema as "unparalleled". The Buckingham Murders by Hansal Mehta was screened during the opening ceremony.[9]
The closing ceremony was held on 3 November, and was hosted by India-based French actor Kalki Koechlin. The South Asia Competition Jury awarded the Golden Gateway Award to Against the Tide by Sarvnik Kaur, a documentary about the Koli fishing community in Mumbai. The jury also awarded the Silver Gateway Award to Bahadur: The Brave by Diwa Shah, a feature film about Nepali migrant workers in India; and the Special Jury Award was given to Agra by Kanu Behl.[11]
Priscilla by Sofia Coppola was screened during the closing ceremony. Although the closing ceremony marked the end of the festival's main programming, the most popular titles of the festival continued to be screened on 4 and 5 November.[11]
Juries
editThe following juries were constituted for this edition of the festival:[12]
South Asia Competition
edit- Mira Nair, Indian-American filmmaker (Head of Jury)
- David Michôd, Australian film director
- Edouard Waintrop, French film critic
- Isabel Sandoval, Filipino filmmaker and actress
Dimensions Mumbai
edit- Anvita Dutt, Indian filmmaker
- Shahana Goswami, Indian actress
- Shriya Pilgaonkar, Indian actress
Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films
edit- Anurag Kashyap, Indian filmmaker
- Paolo Bertolin, Italian film critic and festival programmer
- Sobhita Dhulipala, Indian actress
NETPAC Award
edit- Gulnara Abikeyeva, Kazakh film critic (Head of Jury)
- Latika Padgaonkar, Indian writer, editor, and translator
- Nashen Moodley, Australian-South African film festival director
Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award
edit- Bharathi Pradhan, Indian film critic and author (Head of Jury)
- Aditya Shrikrishna, Indian film critic and journalist
- Stutee Ghosh, Indian film critic and radio jockey
Programmes
editThe Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 was organised into the following sections:[12]
- South Asia Competition – Films from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, competing for the Golden Gateway Award, amongst other awards.
- Focus South Asia – Films from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, not in competition.
- Icons: South Asia – Films from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, from established filmmakers.
- Gala Premieres – Films from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, that are expected to see wider, mainstream release in the future.
- World Cinema – Films from across the world.
- Filmmakers' Programme – Debut and second international films, screened exclusively to filmmakers participating in the festival, at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
- After Dark – Independent genre films from across the world.
- Dimensions Mumbai – Short films set in the city of Mumbai, competing for the Dimensions Mumbai Gold and Silver Awards.
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films – Short films, competing for the associated Best Film and Best Actor awards.
- Play – Premieres of series from streaming services.
- Marathi Talkies – Feature-length and short films in the Marathi language.
- Restored Classics – Restored classic films from across the world.
- Retrospective – Dedicated in 2023 to select films starring Indian actor Bharat Gopy, and to films directed by French filmmaker duo Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet.
- Tributes – Films associated with filmmakers, actors, and other film-related individuals who passed away in 2022 or 2023.
- Recap – Films selected for the 2020 and 2022 editions of the festival, which did not see theatre screening due to festival cancellation or online screening.
Awards
editSouth Asia Competition
edit- Golden Gateway Award: Against the Tide by Sarvnik Kaur
- Silver Gateway Award: Bahadur: The Brave by Diwa Shah
- Special Jury Prize: Agra by Kanu Behl
- Rashid Irani Young Critics Choice Award: Kayo Kayo Colour? (Which Colour?) by Shahrukhkhan Chavada
- NETPAC Award: Rimdogittanga (Rapture) by Dominic Sangma[11]
Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Film
edit- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Film for Best Film: Summer of Soul by Sanjib Gogoi
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Film for Best Actor: James Elia, for Vakuppu (The Clause) by Jayaraj R[13]
Dimensions Mumbai
edit- Dimensions Mumbai Gold Award: Nightingales in the Cocoon by Praveen Giri
- Dimensions Mumbai Silver Award: Halfway by Kumar Chheda[14]
Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award
edit- Barir Naam Shahana (A House Named Shahana) by Leesa Gazi[11]
IMDb Audience Choice Award
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Mitra, Shilajit (2023-10-13). "The return of MAMI: What to expect from the 2023 Mumbai Film Festival". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ a b Ramachandran, Naman (2023-11-04). "'Against The Tide,' 'The Monk And The Gun' Among Mumbai Film Festival Winners". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2023-08-25). "Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Sets Hub, Revives Market: 'We Are Coming Back Bigger and With an Expanded Vision' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Staff, Scroll (2022-02-05). "Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival cancels upcoming edition, cites 'logistical and financial challenges'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Staff, Scroll (2022-02-25). "Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival: Filmmakers protest scrapping of physical screenings in open letter". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Sinha, Arushi (2022-02-25). "What to watch at this year's Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival". Vogue India. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Shackleton, Liz (2023-02-16). "Mumbai Film Festival Confirms Dates, Team For Return As In-Person Event In 2023". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Desk, Entertainment (2023-05-16). "Mumbai Film Festival slammed for excluding Pakistani talent". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ a b Shackleton, Liz (2023-10-27). "Mumbai Opening Night: Priyanka Chopra Jonas Presents Award To Luca Guadagnino; Mani Ratnam & Kamal Haasan Announce Collaboration". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2023-10-25). "Luca Guadagnino, Mani Ratnam to Receive Excellence in Cinema Awards at Mumbai Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e Bureau, The Hindu (2023-11-04). "MAMI 2023 closing ceremony highlights: 'Against The Tide', 'Agra' win honours". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ a b "Festival Catalogue | MAMI Mumbai Film Festival". mami.mumbaifilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ "Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films Partners With Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 to Celebrate Cinematic Excellence in Short-Format Films". ANI News. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (2023-10-28). "Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, Priyanka Chopra Jonas light up grand opening of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help)