Mumbai MAMI Film Festival: The Jio Mami 18th Mumbai Film Festival recently ended and had several highlights, besides playing dozens of amazing world cinema titles.
It also had its share of controversy as a complaint was registered the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival for its decision to screen a Pakistani film (the film was not screened).
At the MAMI Film Festival, veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan (wife of Amitabh Bachchan) rued the fact that filmmaking was no longer an art and had become a business.
Watch: Amitabh Bachchan And Jaya Bachchan at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016
Javed Akhtars advice to the younger generation of filmmakers – make films they like and not what others like because that way they can be sure that atleast one person likes the film.
About Mami
Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) is an international film festival organized by the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) that showcases new films of all genres from around the world. Going by the number (& stature) of stars, politicians and industrialists who attended this year’s MAMI, it seems to be on its way to becoming one of the most popular film related event in India.
Great for Audience & Filmmakers
MAMI was founded by a group of film industry stalwarts headed by late Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and its main intention was to organize an annual International Film Festival that the country could be proud of.
The Mumbai Film Festival provides a great opportunity for the audience to see films from across the globe and across various genres. Its also a great platform for small & independent filmmakers to come together, network and share ideas.
It also provides an opportunity to international film commissions to showcase their films & talents to the local filmmakers, where they could also look at ways to work together on certain projects.
Lack of Funds in Earlier Years
Like most other film festivals across the world, even the Mumbai Film Festival is facing a funds crunch for its forthcoming edition this year. This was also reported in the news; several Bollywood stars have supported the fest and also urged people to aid it. The festival organizers in Mumbai faced a financial crisis as their contract with Reliance Entertainment ended, and they needed funds till the time they could find a new sponsor.
Celebrities like Aamir Khan have always openly supported this film fest. Aamir Khan tweeted, “Hey guys, the Mumbai Film Festival needs our help. I’m donating 11 lakhs.”
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was urging people to help the fest monetarily. “The film festival of Mumbai MAMI needs support. It is a flourishing festival that encourages the best in the cinema world. Please!” Amitabh tweeted.
Hey guys, the Mumbai Film Festival ‘MIFF’ needs our help. I’m donating 11 lakhs.
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) September 4, 2014
would be really great if all of you came forward and donated as much as you can to make it happen! Thanks. Love. a
http://t.co/DAD6E4jSwe
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) September 4, 2014
Mumbai Film Festival Hosts Remakes Market: No More Copycats?
For years, Bollywood has been given the tag of copycats as Indian filmmakers borrowed heavily on foreign films, without giving them the due credit. With the growth of Bollywood and its tremendous connect with the Indian diaspora worldwide, foreign countries have been keen to collaborate with India on various film related aspects.
Read: Bollywood spreads its wing around the world.
For some time now, various foreign motion pictures association have been trying to educate people within the Indian film fraternity on the subject of Remakes. Its one of those areas that needs to be properly addressed, considering India’s much-maligned image of an industry that feeds on blockbusters in foreign languages.
But now its seems Bollywood is keen to take a step in the right direction.
Mumbai Film Festival recently hosted the ‘Remakes Market’, where select films (with good potential) were showcased for potential buyers for the Indian audience.
Something like this happened for the first time in India, and considering the happy phase through which the Indian film industry (the largest producer of movies in the world) is going through, it was probably the right thing to do.
This move was initiated at the Cannes Film Festival, after India completed its 100 years of cinema. The French film industry was keen that Indian hosted an event of this kind.
French film promotion body ‘Unifrance’ participated in this ‘market for remakes’ at the upcoming Mumbai Film Festival, with their french offerings. Even Germany companies participated in the event. Indian filmmakers and producers from Bollywood, the southern and the eastern film industries also participated.
India is a top priority for many
Several countries are keen on collaborating with India and have setup offices in Mumbai so that they can make better progress. India is a top priority currently for most, considering the interesting phase of Indian cinema.
Read: MPA sets office in Mumbai, to bring Bollywood & Hollywood together.
In recent years, success of Anurag Kashyap’s films and the commercial success of The Lunchbox in France have got them really interested in Indian cinema.
Remakes will help India discover other countries
Most foreign film commissions will be interested in the ‘remakes’ event because if the movies do get made in Indian language, it will help Indian movie buffs understand more about that country, their films, culture, and so on, which will benefit the foreign country as well.
“We are not strong like Bollywood and Hollywood, but we are going to compete with our diversity and complexity,” said Unifrance. While looking for a share in the Indian market, Unifrance will also be interesting in co-producing films with Indian partners.
For some time now, French international film distribution companies have been organizing screenings of French films in Juhu for Bollywood producers and production company executives for promoting remakes.
I think, Bollywood has been presented with an opportunity, not just to change its image, but also to remake some of the biggest foreign language box office hits in recent years.
Will Indian filmmakers take the bait, or will they continue to be copycats? We’ll have to wait to find that out!
