Mumbai:
Six first-time women directors competing in the international segment will be a highlight of the 13th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI) which kicked off on Thursday.
Even the festival organisers weren't aware that of the 14 films set to compete in the international competition, which is for first-time film directors, six films are by women filmmakers.
"While talking to you I realised that one of the most unprecedented things for any festival is that in competition we have six debut women filmmakers vying for the many prizes," said Rashid Irani, senior film critic and a selection committee member.
"And each one of them is such a stunning debut that you have to see it to believe it," he added.
The films include Julia Leigh's Sleeping Beauty from Australia, History Only Exists When Remembered by Julia Murat from Brazil/Argentina, My Little Princess by Eva Ionesco from France, The Dead Sea by Leena Manimekalai from India, The Mirror Never Lies by Kamila Andini from Indonesia and She Monkeys by Lisa Aschan from Sweden.
Festival director Srinivasan Narayanan is happy to see so many women filmmakers in this competition. "Last year we had an all women jury and this year we have women dominating the competition section. What more could we ask for," Narayanan said.
During the seven-day-long film festival, movie buffs will enjoy films by renowned international directors such as Lars Von Trier, Wim Wenders, Gus Van Sant and Bela Tarr.
Apart from this, the winners from the world's best film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and Venice, will also be showcased during the festival.
"This is by far the best festival we have had under MAMI so far and the best in the country," said MAMI chairman Shyam Benegal.
"The quality of any film festival should be judged by its films. This year we have an enviable line up of not only the best films made in the world last year, but also the best from the Cannes Critics Week, first films of Indian filmmakers, great first film in competition etc. There's something in the festival for everyone - the film professionals, cinema lovers and especially the youth hungry for good cinema," he added.
MAMI organises the festival along with Reliance Entertainment.
Even the festival organisers weren't aware that of the 14 films set to compete in the international competition, which is for first-time film directors, six films are by women filmmakers.
"While talking to you I realised that one of the most unprecedented things for any festival is that in competition we have six debut women filmmakers vying for the many prizes," said Rashid Irani, senior film critic and a selection committee member.
"And each one of them is such a stunning debut that you have to see it to believe it," he added.
The films include Julia Leigh's Sleeping Beauty from Australia, History Only Exists When Remembered by Julia Murat from Brazil/Argentina, My Little Princess by Eva Ionesco from France, The Dead Sea by Leena Manimekalai from India, The Mirror Never Lies by Kamila Andini from Indonesia and She Monkeys by Lisa Aschan from Sweden.
Festival director Srinivasan Narayanan is happy to see so many women filmmakers in this competition. "Last year we had an all women jury and this year we have women dominating the competition section. What more could we ask for," Narayanan said.
During the seven-day-long film festival, movie buffs will enjoy films by renowned international directors such as Lars Von Trier, Wim Wenders, Gus Van Sant and Bela Tarr.
Apart from this, the winners from the world's best film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and Venice, will also be showcased during the festival.
"This is by far the best festival we have had under MAMI so far and the best in the country," said MAMI chairman Shyam Benegal.
"The quality of any film festival should be judged by its films. This year we have an enviable line up of not only the best films made in the world last year, but also the best from the Cannes Critics Week, first films of Indian filmmakers, great first film in competition etc. There's something in the festival for everyone - the film professionals, cinema lovers and especially the youth hungry for good cinema," he added.
MAMI organises the festival along with Reliance Entertainment.
