201 films. 9 categories. 3 locations. The 13th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival is here, and there's even a short film competition for Mumbaikars under the age of 25. The Guide tells you what to keep an eye out for at the annual fest that opens today
201 films. 9 categories. 3 locations. The 13th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival is here, and there's even a short film competition for Mumbaikars under the age of 25. The Guide tells you what to keep an eye out for at the annual fest that opens today
Get the chance to see the city through new eyes at the 13th Mumbai International Film Festival, which will feature short films by young Mumbaikars. Apart from that you can watch films in the International Competition (best debut feature films), World Cinema, Celebrate Age (ad films, short fiction films, documentaries and feature length films on growing older.), Retrospectives, Indian Frame (selection of Indian cinema), New Faces in Indian Cinema (first and second feature films by Indian directors), Above the Cut (debut films) and The Real Reel (critically acclaimed feature-length documentaries) categories. 
A still from the 2011 film Melancholia, an apocalyptic drama directed by
Lars von Trier, starring Kirsten Dunst and Kiefer Sutherland
A total of 201 films will be screened across three venues (Cinemax (Versova), Cinemax (Sion) and Metro Big Cinemas (Metro)) at the weeklong festival, which opens today and closes on October 20.u00a0 "The festival is on a much larger scale, this year," shares Festival Director Srinivasan Narayanan, reflecting on the seven months of planning that have gone into it. "I have told people not to touch me on the shoulder, as I might break because of the tension," he says with a laugh. "We received over 800 entries for the festival," reveals Narayanan, adding that the jury eventually narrowed the selection to 201. 
Moneyball is a biographical film based on Michael Lewis' book of the same
name
Ask him to choose his favourites from the line-up and he declines, saying that the list would run into over a hundred. But prod him further and he shares that Melancholia, The Whistle Blower and The Green Wave are among his top picks.
Special section
Rendezvous with French cinema is a special section that has been organised in collaboration with the French Embassy in India and Unifrance. The section will feature a line-up of over 30 French films.u00a0
Well-known personalities from French cinema, including Delphine Coulin, Martin Provost, Jos ufffd Alcala and St ufffdphane Robelin are expected to attend the festival.
Behind the scenes
Workshops to encourage film buffs and aspiring filmmakers alike have also been arranged. One such is the Indo-German Script Development workshop, which will see experts from Germany interact with local filmmakers, scriptwriters and producers to understand the finer nuances of scriptwriting
The Mumbai Young Critics' workshop, which was held over yesterday and today, introduced 24 college students to the various aspects that go into the judging of a film.
"They were selected on the basis of their writing and reviewing skills," says workshop coordinator Sanjay Ram about the youngsters, who will form a jury to decide on the best film. "That film will be given the Mumbai Young Critic jury award," adds Sanjay. Participant and aspiring filmmaker, Hersh Sethia (18) says that the workshop conducted by film critic Anupama Chopra provided him with valuable insights into the discipline.
From: Today; Open to the public from tomorrow
Till: Oct 20
At: Cinemax (Versova), Cinemax (Sion), Metro Big Cinemas.
Call:u00a040168223
Entry: Rs 1,200 (season pass); discounts for students and film society members.
On-the-spot registration at Cinemax, Versova. Watch this space for details onu00a0 the film schedule or log on to www.mumbaifilmfest.com
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