The Festival will be hosted in Mumbai, with parallel screenings in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Pune.
Record submissions of nearly 1000 films from 59 countries and 61 languages.
The 2024 Edition marks the launch of the DOC Film Bazaar, dedicated to supporting documentary films.
Noted filmmakers will participate in more than 25 Masterclasses, Panel Discussions, and Open Forums on the Curated Topics.
International directors Audrius Stonys, Bharat Bala, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, and Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck, as well as producers Apoorva Bakshi, Adele Seelmann-Eggebert, Keiko Bang, and Barthélemy Fougea, will serve on the respected council.
Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, announced today that the 18th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival will take place from June 15th to June 21st, 2024 in Mumbai.
He stated that, while the festival would be held in the FD-NFDC Complex in Mumbai, MIFF screenings will also take place in Delhi (Sirifort Auditorium), Chennai (Tagore Film Centre), Pune (NFAI Auditorium), and Kolkata (SRFTI Auditorium).
MIFF Film Programming
1. Record film. This year's competition divisions received 1018 film submissions.
2. The 3 Selection Committees of distinguished film professionals selected 102 films for the International (25) and National (77) competition divisions. The selecting Committee also unanimously said that the outstanding caliber of film applications received this year made the selection process difficult.
3. There are 314 films in the MIFF Programming this year from 59 countries and 61 languages.
4. There will be eight global premieres, five international premieres, 18 Asian premieres, and 21 Indian premieres.
5. This version features special bundles, such as:
a. Oscar and Berlinale Film Package (12 Short Films Each)
b. 'Special Country Focus Packages' from partnering with seven countries: Russia, Japan, Belarus, Italy, Iran, Vietnam, and Mali.
c. Animation bundle curated from four countries - France, Slovenia, Argentina, and Greece.
d. Student films from reputable institutes throughout the country (45 films)
e. Restored classics package from the NFDC - National Film Archives of India
f. Competition films on the unique theme of India at Amrit Kaal, reflecting the country's expansion, development, and prosperity.
g. For example, the Divyangjan package includes films for the visually impaired with audio and sign language descriptions, as well as closed captions for the hearing impaired.
h. Selected packages of films are also available.
i. Wildlife.
ii. Missionary Life
iii. Films by Asian Female Filmmakers
Opening and Closing Films of MIFF
6. "Billy & Molly, an Otter Love Story" will open the 18th MIFF with screenings in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Chennai on June 15, 2024.
7. The Golden Conch-winning film will be shown as the festival's closing film on June 21, 2024.
Jury and Awards
8. The Jury for the International Competition consists of eminent film personalities from around the world, including Keiko Bang, Barthélemy Fougea, Audrius Stonys, Bharat Bala, and Manas Choudhary, who will award the Golden Conch for the best documentary film, the Silver Conch for the best international short fiction film and animation film, and the Pramod Pati Award for the most innovative/experimental film.
9. Adele Seelmann-Eggebert, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, Apoorva Bakshi, Munjal Shroff, and Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck are among the notable names on the Jury for the National Competition for the 18th MIFF, who will confer the Best Indian Documentary, Short Film, Animation, Best Debut Film Award (sponsored by the Government of Maharashtra), and Best Student Film Award (sponsored by IDPA), in addition to a host of technical awards and a Special Award for Best Short Film on "India in Amrit Kaal"
10. Additionally, three technical awards for 1) cinematography, 2) editing, and 3) sound design will be granted in both the national and international competitions.
11. A FIPRESCI Jury of three famous film critics will also present the award for a national competition documentary.
12. Total awards: Rs 42 lacs.
Accessible Festival
13. Films for the visually impaired with audio and sign language descriptions, as well as those for the hearing impaired with closed captions.
14. In addition to the unique films for the specially-abled, NFDC has collaborated with Svayam, a non-profit organization, to make the MIFF festival location at the NFDC-FD grounds accessible to those with disabilities and special needs. The accessibility cooperation will also guarantee that volunteers at the event are trained to assist delegates with accessibility difficulties, resulting in a smooth experience for visiting delegates.
15. All MIFF sites at the NFDC-FD Campus in Mumbai will have interconnected rain shades with Audis, buildings, and market hangers.
Gala Opening/Closing Ceremony with Red Carpets
16. The Grand Opening and Closing ceremonies will be place at NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The events will feature an artistic mash-up of cultural acts, including an act depicting the journey of Indian animation, a cultural performance from Sri Lanka in the opening and from Argentina in the closing ceremonies, and a screening of the FTII student short film "Sunflowers were the first ones to know," which won the La Cinef Award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year.
17. Gala Red Carpet screenings will take place every day at the NFDC-FD complex in Mumbai, beginning with the opening feature on June 15th. Other red-carpet events with notable cinema superstars are planned.
18. Exclusive red carpets will also be hosted in Delhi (17th June), Chennai (18th June), Kolkata (19th June), and Pune (20th June), with participation from prominent figures in the film business.
Masterclass and Panel Discussions
19. The 18th MIFF will feature 20 engaging masterclasses, in-conversations, and panel discussions with industry giants such as filmmakers Santosh Sivan, Audrius Stonys, Ketan Mehta, Richie Mehta, T.S Nagabharana, Georges Schwizgebel, and many others.
20. Every day, famous film industry personalities will participate in open forum debates hosted by the Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) at the colorful Amphitheatre location.
21. Registered participants have been invited to attend a session on the animation and VFX pipeline.
Documentary Film Bazaar
22. DOC The Film Bazaar is being held for the first time to assist and stimulate film production by offering a venue for filmmakers to discover buyers, sponsors, and collaborators for their movies.
23. Nearly 200 projects in 27 languages have been submitted from ten countries.
24. The Doc Film Bazaar will have three selected verticals: 'Co-production Market' (16 projects), 'Work-in-Progress (WIP) Lab' (6 projects), and 'Viewing Room' (106 projects).
25. In addition to these opportunities for chosen films, there will be an 'Open Buyer-Seller Meet' to let filmmakers connect with buyers and corporates in the areas of production, syndication, acquisition, distribution, and sales.
26. A focused workshop on the synergistic relationship between documentary filming and corporate branding. With industry leaders from several industry verticals, such as FICCI, we will look into CSR funding for documentaries as a potent instrument for brand improvement and a catalyst for positive social effects.
Dedicated portal and mobile app for MIFF
27. MIFF has built an interactive website, www.miff.in, that provides fascinating details about the films, events, and activities planned for the festival.
28. A unique mobile app has been established to help delegates participate in a variety of activities such as pre-booking film screenings, attending masterclasses, and open forums. It will also allow the festival to gather crucial input from visitors.
Delegate Registrations
29. Delegate registration is simple yet required for attendance at the festival via the website or the QR code included in MIFF advertising materials.
30. Delegate registration is also available through Book My Show.
31. There are no additional fees for attending any number of film screenings, masterclasses, or Documentary Film Bazaar.
32. Delegate Registration Fees-
a. Mumbai: Rs 500 for attending the entire festival.
b. Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune are free.
c. Student and Press - Free
d. All delegates' registrations are 'FREE' for the next three days.
Partnerships
33. For the first time, MIFF has obtained corporate collaborations from over 20 firms participating in the festival. The brands have worked with the event on a variety of levels, ranging from sponsoring various components of the festival to putting in expertise to help develop it.
Background
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has been South Asia's oldest and largest film festival for non-feature films (documentary, short fiction, and animation), as well as a premier worldwide event in the documentary film field. It is a biennial event held once every two years.
MIFF provides a venue for documentary filmmakers from all over the world to interact, exchange ideas, explore co-production and marketing opportunities for documentary, short, and animation films, and extend filmmakers' perspectives on world cinema. The festival will give a forum for more talks and discussions about documentary, animation, and short films, to encourage artistic expression and serve as a creative spark for filmmakers and attendees alike.
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