Devanjana Mukherjee, Khabri Media
The festival is an excellent opportunity for international audiences to discover the diverse and vibrant world of Indian cinema.
Pic: Social Media
The opening ceremony of the JIO MAMI Film Festival was a star-studded affair as it was attended by the who’s who of Bollywood and television industries. It commenced with the ceremony, held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC).
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The 10-day film gala has returned with its first on-ground edition after a gap of three years, starting from October 27 till November 5. The event was graced by Sonam Kapoor, Kamal Haasan, Rajkummar Rao, Saif Ali Khan, Bhumi Pednekar, Arjun Rampal, Babil Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanya Malhotra, Priyanka Chopra, and Kareena Kapoor.
Filmmakers Karan Johar, Hansal Mehta, Vishal Bhardwaj, and wife Rekha Bhardwaj, Zoya Akhtar, and producer Ektaa R Kapoor, were also in attendance. Television actors included Tara Sutaria, Tejasswi Prakash, Avneet Kaur, Palak Tiwari, amongst others.
Priyanka Chopra at JIO MAMI festival (Pic: Social Media)
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who is the chairperson of the film gala’s current edition, expressed her excitement to kick-start the festival. “Welcome to Jio Mami Film Festival where cinema is not just an art form but a way of life,” the actor said.
Fashionistas at MAMI
Kamal Hasan looked suave in a fossil grey coloured blazer which he paired with matching denims and a black t-shirt.
Sanya Malhotra graced the event in a stylish black and white blazer and black pants. She tied her hair neatly in a bun and kept her jewellery minimal.
Sunny Kaushal (Vicky Khaushal’s brother) accentuated his look with the shimmery black kurta and a light stubble.
Pic: Social Media
Kareena Kapoor looked gorgeous as always as she wore a black gown with pink sleeves and a plunging neckline.
Babil Khan donned a textured coat with long sleeves with matching kurta.
Priyanka Chopra was seen in a white gown with golden stripes, and a matching cape.
Sonam Kapoor chose to wear a Audrey Hepburn-type gown.
Karisma donned a white and black saree, while Saif was in a white kurta-pyjama with a white Nehru jacket.
Bhumika Chawla and Bhumika Pednekar at the gala (Pic: Social Media)
Films screened at MAMI
- Kareena-starrer The Buckingham Murders, directed by Hansal Mehta, served as the opening film of the festival.
- Anurag Kashyap’s crime thriller ‘Kennedy’, starring Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat.
- Aparna Sen’s ‘The Rapist’, starring Konkona Sensharma and Arjun Rampal.
Awards at MAMI
At the ceremony, renowned directors Mani Ratnam and Luca Guadagnino were honored with the Excellence in Cinema Award. Dimensions Mumbai, a short film competition on the theme of Mumbai City for filmmakers across India, was presented to Nightingales in the Cocoon by Praveen Giri and Halfway by Kumar Chheda. Aruna Vasudev, Nasreen Munni Kabir, and Uma da Cunha received the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Directors at JIO MAMI 2023 (Pic: Social Media)
The best film award went to Summer of Soul by Sanjib Gogoi. Best actor award was won by James elia of Vakuppu (The Clause). Actor Sobhita Dhulipala and filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra celebrated the winners for the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films awards. Book on Cinema award went to Mahatma on Celluloid: A Cinematic Biography by Prakash Magdum, that was presented by Sonam Kapoor.
Events at MAMI
The gala boasts of over 40 world premieres, 45 Asia premieres, 70 South Asia premieres, and 13 sections. The festival will showcase over 250 films with a special focus on contemporary films and new cinematic voices from South Asia.
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The Mumbai Film Festival, also known as MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image), has earned its reputation as a platform for showcasing the best in world cinema, including a strong focus on Indian films across various languages.
The festival aims to promote, celebrate, and nurture the art of filmmaking, making it a prominent event on the Indian film industry calendar. This year’s opening ceremony was a testament to the festival’s enduring appeal and influence.
