Cinema takes centre stage

A still from ‘Time and Water’

Mumbai is gearing up for six days of cinema magic. The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) kicks off next week, bringing with it an eclectic mix of documentaries, shorts, animation films and, for the first time, an AI-powered filmmaking challenge.

A still from ‘Good Luck to You All'

Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker Cordell Barker's animated feature Good Luck to You All will open the festival on June 15. The opening day will also see screenings of the Philippines short Agapito and the documentary Time and Water at Films Division-National Development Corporation Complex, in Pedder Road.

A still from ‘Agapito'. Pics/By Special Arrangement, AFP, Instagram

The ceremony will feature the presentation of the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award, coinciding with the legendary filmmaker's 125th birth anniversary. Another icon to be honoured is David Attenborough, whose two films will be screened as part of the Centenary Tribute.

Cordell Barker and David Attenborough

This year, MIFF will also host its first-ever 48-hour global filmmaking challenge, Mumbai Through a Thousand Eyes, which explores Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven storytelling. The Competition Section features 144 films, including 52 international and 92 national entries. The non-competition section will showcase 202 films, with 106 international titles and 96 Indian films from 46 countries.

MIFF will host 10 masterclasses on filmmaking, storytelling, acting, screenwriting, and cinematography. The Indian Documentary Producers' Association (IDPA) will also organise five open forum discussions alongside the screenings.

1459
Number of films to be screened at MIFF