Carlos Saura presented Lifetime Achievement Award at MAMI

Mumbai, Mar 14 (UNI) Carlos Saura, a Spanish film director whose filmography includes over 30 pictures, was presented the Global Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th MAMI International Festival here.

Mr Saura, who was bestowed with the honour last night, while talking to reporters said, ''Once a famous Spanish painter drew a painting of an old man walking with a stick and below he said 'I am still learning'. All this shows we are still learning and travelling and this intra-cultural exchange is very important.'' Some of his works include ''Carmen'' (1983), ''Bodas de Sangre'' (1981), ''El Amor Brujo'' (1985), ''Sevillanas'' (1991) and ''Flamenco'' (1995). Eight of his films were screened at the MAMI Festival, which concluded last night.

Of Indian cinema he said, ''I don't know much of Indian cinema except for Satyajit Ray, Mrinal sen and Mira Nair. We don't get much of Indian cinema to see in Spain but I love Indian music.'' For this reason Mr Saura will be travelling to meet Zubin Mehta in Florence next month to make a musical.

''I feel I have a deep connection with India. I grew up watching films of Satyajit Ray and I had a chance to see his retrospective last year in Madrid,'' Mr Saura added.

When quizzed by reporters about his favourite film, he said, ''Of all my films none are my favourites because they all could have been made in a better way. That is the reason I don't see them, if I did I would suffer.'' UNI LS NM RL GC1702