9th MAMI Internatinal Film Festival from March 8 to 15

Mumbai, Feb 25 (UNI) The 9th International Film Festival, Mumbai, (IFFM) presented by Adlabs and organised by the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI), will get under way at the Y B Chavan centre here from March 8.

The week-long Festival, dedicated to the memory of the Late Hrishikesh Mukherjee, veteren filmmaker and Founder Chairman of the MAMI, will conclude on March 15.

Mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan will be given a ''Special Award to Salute Indian Cinema's Global Icon'', writer Javed Akhtar will receive the 'Life time Achievement award' and Music composer Pyarelal will get 'Outstanding Contribution to Indian Film Music' award.

The 'Kodak Award for Technical Excellence will be received by cinematographer and Filmmaker Govind Nihalani and award for ''significant Contribution to the Cinema over 25 years'' will be presented to Aparna Sen.

Addressing mediapersons, MAMI chairman Shyam Benegal said twelve films will be screened from Spain and there will also be a delegation from their country. A package of films from Hungary, and another package of films from South Africa are among the other highlights of the festival.

About 100 films from 32 countries, including India, will be screened at the event. The Chinese film ''The Curse of The Golden Flower'' will be the inaugural film and Mira Nair's celebrated film ''Namesake'' is the closing Film.

The festival will also see a competition of Indian films with 12 films in different languages in contention. A five-member international Jury, headed by Girish Karnad, will decide the best film, which will be given a cash prize.

UNI