The 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival showcased a dynamic mix of cinema, recognizing boundary-pushing filmmakers, influential short films, and the enduring power of storytelling across South Asia and the global stage. The #Newsdesk reports…

The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating innovative filmmaking from South Asia and beyond. This year, films like Rhythm of a Flower, Girls Will Be Girls, and Nocturnes captivated audiences and juries alike, earning top honors for their exploration of modern storytelling. Showcasing over 110 films across 50 languages, MAMI 2024 also featured premieres from Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, a platform spotlighting fresh short film talent. With attendees like Shabana Azmi and Manoj Bajpayee, and awards celebrating young critics, cinematic excellence, and gender sensitivity, the festival further cemented its role as a leading film festival in South Asia, fostering creativity and cultural dialogue.

Honoring Creative Talent: Awards and Highlights

The 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival closed with a vibrant ceremony on Thursday last week, celebrating the remarkable talents and achievements within the Indian and international cinematic landscape. Hosted at PVR INOX in Juhu, Mumbai, and Regal Cinema in Colaba, Mumbai, the festival's success was reflected in the attendance of eminent figures like Shabana Azmi, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chaddha, Ali Fazal, Kabir Khan, and others, alongside an audience that had enthusiastically engaged with the festival’s offerings.

The prestigious Golden Gateway Award in the South Asia Competition went to Rhythm of a Flower (Phool Ka Chand) by Amit Dutta, a film that captivated the jury led by Rada Šešić, accompanied by Clarence Tsui, Kate Laurie, Jérôme Baron, and Marie Fuglestein Lægreid. Nocturnes, a collaborative piece by Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan, was awarded the Silver Gateway, commended for its exploration of profound themes. The Fable by Raam Reddy received the Special Jury Prize, while Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls earned a Special Mention, a work celebrated for challenging gender norms and advocating for nuanced narratives in Indian cinema.

The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury, comprising Dr. Ida Yoshinaga, Dr. Tsengel Davaasambuu, and Upali Gamlath, also bestowed accolades. Shambala by Min Bahadur Bham and Agent of Happiness by Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó received Special Mentions, while Girls Will Be Girls clinched the main NETPAC Award. These awards reflected the festival's commitment to supporting cinema that sparks critical reflection and social dialogue.

In the Dimensions Mumbai section, which encourages young filmmakers to depict Mumbai’s diverse life, the Gold Award was given to Shreela Agarwal’s BMCLD. The Silver Award was split between A Tale of Two Cities by Sameeha Sabnis and I Was Painted Red by Bhagyesh Rajeshirke, a choice that recognized the emerging voices in regional filmmaking. The jury, comprising directors Amit Masurkar, Chaitanya Tamhane, and Paromita Vohra, stressed the depth and creative flair shown in capturing the essence of Mumbai's multifaceted culture. 

The Power of Short Films and Emerging Voices

Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, a major collaborator with MAMI, highlighted unique narratives in the short film genre. The award for Best Film went to Ade (On A Sunday) by Theja Rio, with Coming Back to Life (Et Moi, Je Revis) by Mantra Watsa receiving the Special Jury Prize. Additionally, the festival saw the debut of two Royal Stag Barrel Select original films—Aloo Bhujia, directed by Lakshmi R Iyer and produced by Gul Panag, and The Promise, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. Both films, greeted with high anticipation, engaged audiences in post-screening discussions, reflecting the evolving place of short films in Indian cinema. Speaking on the platform’s role in supporting short-form content, actor and producer Gul Panag expressed her appreciation for the creative freedom provided, describing her association with Royal Stag Barrel Select as "a remarkable journey." Meanwhile, Tigmanshu Dhulia, whose affinity for character-driven stories is widely acknowledged, noted the platform's influence in reshaping public perception of short films.

Jim Sarbh, who will soon appear in a Royal Stag Barrel Select short film trilogy, echoed these sentiments, praising the platform for nurturing content with "depth and originality." Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer at Pernod Ricard India, emphasized Royal Stag Barrel Select's commitment to fostering unique stories and providing a dynamic environment for filmmakers, an initiative well aligned with MAMI’s goals, as stated by Artistic Director Deepti DCunha. She highlighted how the partnership exemplified both organizations' shared dedication to elevating emerging voices in cinema.

Girls Will Be Girls honoured with the Gender Sensitivity Award

The Film Critics Guild also made its mark, with the Gender Sensitivity Award presented to Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls, a film that deftly tackles gender-based stereotypes. Monika Rawal, Rohit Khilnani, and Sanyukta Thakare, representing the Guild, applauded Talati's work for advancing gender-sensitive narratives in a traditional storytelling landscape. Recognized yet again, Girls Will Be Girls received the Rashid Irani Young Critics Choice Award, further attesting to its impact and relevance in contemporary cinema. The festival’s Best Book on Cinema accolade went to The Age of Heroes: The Incredible World of Telugu Cinema by Mukesh Manjunath, recognizing its insightful contribution to film literature. Sarth Patel was honoured with the Rashid Irani Best Young Critic Award, with Saanvi Tara Dwivedi and Rushnan Jaleel as runners-up, illustrating MAMI’s commitment to fostering critical engagement with cinema.

A particularly moving moment in the ceremony was the presentation of the Excellence in Cinema Award to veteran actress Shabana Azmi, acknowledging her invaluable contribution to Indian cinema. Azmi, known for her impactful roles and dedication to the craft, accepted the award amidst heartfelt applause, marking a defining moment for the festival. The ceremony culminated in the South Asia premiere of Sean Baker’s Anora, which captivated audiences with its gritty portrayal of a Brooklyn sex worker, Ani (played by Mikey Madison), entangled in a dangerous world of Russian crime syndicates.

In a powerful moment, Richa Chaddha, who co-produced one of the award-winning films, took to the stage to express her gratitude: “This award means a lot. We were hoping for good audience reception in our country. This will always be an Indian film, even if it's an international coproduction." She praised MAMI for enabling such diverse cinematic expressions, emphasizing, “It's always the freedom of expression that matters.” Shuchi Talati added her reflections on the significance of independent cinema, remarking on the immense support her film received from audiences.

Ali Fazal, another co-producer, expressed how the process was a learning curve for him as an actor and producer, crediting Talati for her inspiring directorial vision. Manoj Bajpayee, whose performance in The Fable was widely lauded, shared a heartfelt account of the film's arduous journey through production delays during the pandemic, underscoring the resilience and dedication of the entire team.

As a platform championing short-form cinema, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films not only showcased new content but also announced a short film contest, providing emerging filmmakers with the opportunity to exhibit their work. A jury comprising Hansal Mehta, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Rajshri Deshpande screened and selected the winners of this contest, affirming the festival's dedication to recognizing fresh talent.

In addition to the in-person festivities, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films announced that its two originals, Aloo Bhujia and The Promise, would soon premiere on their official YouTube channel, expanding access to these celebrated works for a global audience.