Shyam Benegal inaugurates MAMI film fest

Mumbai, Mar 6 (UNI) The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI)'s 10th International Film Festival was inaugurated by its chairman and noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal here today.

The week-long festival will screen 140 films from 45 countries in three threatres in the city -- Adlabs, Wadala , Metro Adlabs and Cine Max, Versova.

The opening film tonight is the Polish film 'Katyan' made by master director Andrzej Wajada. It was the Oscar nominee in Foreign Language film category and was premiered at the recently-concluded 58th Berlin Film Festival. Its grand Asian premiere will be held tonight at the Mumbai Film Festival here.

To commemorate a decade of excellece, MAMI has introduced a host of new initiatives like the institution of the Global Lifetime Achievement award. The award has been instituted this year and will be awarded to an international director for his or her contribution to world cinema. The first award will be conferred to Carlos Saura, the renowned Polish director, who will be in the metropolis to attend function.

Among other awards are the Lifetime Achievement award, which will be presented to Dharmendra. Then there is the award for significant contribution to cinema over 25 years to an actor-director, which will be given to Rishi Kapoor.

Awards for significant contribution to cinema over 25 years to an actor-director will be given to veteran actor Rishi Kapoor.

The award for outstanding contribution to Indian film music as lyrics writer will be presented to Gulzaar and the Kodak award for technical excellence will be given to Hitendra Ghosh.

The closing film at the film fest is the Japanese film 'The Mourning Forest' that won the Grand Prix award at the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival held in France last year.

MAMI has organised a film competition, 'Dimension Mumbai', for city's youths below 25 years for making a five-minute digital film on the theme of metropolis. The competition has the cash prize of USD 2,500.

The award ceremony will be held on the closing night on March 13, where living legend Dev Anand will preside over as chief guest and present the awards.

A three-member FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) jury will announce the results on the closing night.

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