JIO MAMI 22ND MUMBAI FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS ITS LINE-UP FOR WE ARE ONE: A GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL

Jyothi Venkatesh

Golden Gateway Award winner Prateek Vats' Eeb Allay Ooo!, Arun Karthick's Nasir, Shaan Vyas' Natkhat (short) and Atul Mongia's Awake (short) selected for the first International online global film festival. Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is the only film festival from India that has been invited for this initiative that brings together 21 of the world’s leading film festivals. The 10-Day Digital Festival, produced and organised by Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube, will Feature Programming from festivals including Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival. Highlights include talks by Francis Ford Coppola with Steven Soderbergh, Song Kang-ho with Bong Joon-ho, and Jackie Chan. Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube announced today the programming slate for We Are One: A Global Film Festival, which will feature over 100 films co-curated by 21 leading festivals, hailing from 35 countries, in addition to talks, VR content and musical performances. The 10-day digital event will celebrate global voices, elevate films that have the power to create change and bring audiences from around the world together to create meaningful connections.

Assembling some of the world’s most talented artists, storytellers and curators around a central effort to provide entertainment and offer relief in the form of supporting organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival will run exclusively on YouTube May 29 - June 7 at YouTube.com/WeAreOne. “The We Are One initiative by Tribeca Enterprises is a humble and sincere attempt to bring about some relief to audiences across continents. We at MAMI are deeply pained to see the devastation around us and feel honoured to stand with our global community in this time of monumental crisis,” said Deepika Padukone (Chairperson, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival & Actor, Producer). We Are One: A Global Film Festival will give audiences an opportunity to experience different cultures through an artistic lens - each official selection was handpicked for inclusion to highlight the singularities of each participating festival, while also providing a voice to filmmakers on a global stage. Many of these titles will have significant debuts at the festival, with programming consisting of over 100 films, including 13 world premieres, 31 online premieres, and five international online premieres. “It feels great to be on the same platform as some of the best film festivals across the world.

A pandemic has brought us together. We stand in solidarity today and I hope this spirit of creating together stays for years after we have survived this difficult time,” said Zoya Akhtar (Member, Board of Trustees, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival & Filmmaker). "The festival was created by some of the finest filmmakers in India - Shyam Benegal, Ramesh Sippy and the late Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The idea was for film professionals to create a film festival and to bring the best of Indian cinema and world cinema for film lovers in Mumbai. That continues to be our driving force, it continues to be our catalyst. Being invited to be part of We Are One has only made our resolve stronger,” said Anupama Chopra (Festival Director, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival). The four films (two features and two shorts) that are part of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival’s programming for We Are One are: Arun Karthick’s Nasir (fiction, feature), Prateek Vats’ Eeb Allay Ooo! (fiction, feature), Atul Mongia’s Awake (fiction, short) and Shaan Vyas’ Natkhat (fiction, short).

The programming for We Are One: A Global Film Festival is curated by Smriti Kiran (Artistic Director, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival) and it is noteworthy that all the four films handpicked for the prestigious festival are made by first and second-time directors. It is also a homecoming of sorts for all the filmmakers who have been associated with MAMI in various ways across the years. Speaking about the selection, Smriti Kiran said, “Eeb Allay Ooo!, Natkhat, Nasir, and Awake represent urgent, relevant and diverse aspects of India and the world. The apathy towards the migrant workers, the mindless devastation of communal violence, deep-rooted patriarchy, ideas of love and possession will find resonance across continents.

The challenge and responsibility for us always is to consistently push the different film cultures that co-exist in India and bring to the surface new and exciting voices. We Are One is a milestone endeavour for us to stand in solidarity with the global film community and an incredible opportunity and platform to put some of our best new cinematic voices out in the world.” The singular mission of MAMI as an Academy and the film festival it organises is to nurture the best emerging Indian cinema and filmmakers and amplify their voices so that they reach new audiences and find recognition on the global stage. In the last six years, its new initiatives such as the MAMI Year Round Programme, the recently announced online extension to it, MAMI Year Round Programme Home Theatre and Dial M For Films, an online knowledge series, have had film lovers flocking to watch the latest Indian independent cinema and interact with the creators behind them. “Two of the best films I have watched from Indian filmmakers in recent times are playing as part of We Are One. Prateek Vats’ Eeb Allay Ooo! is the truest, most biting representation of India that I have seen in recent memory. Without a doubt, my most favourite film of 2019. Arun Karthick’s Nasir is a gorgeous, meditative and heart-wrenching film about politics and religion, and its intersection with the most pure and innocent human lives. This will be both a launch pad for them and a treat for the audience worldwide,” said Vikramaditya Motwane (Member, Board of Trustees, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival & Filmmaker).

Arun Karthick's Nasir had its World Premiere this year at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Tiger Competition where it won the NETPAC Award. It was also selected for the prestigious New Directors/New Films festival. Nasir had its Asia Premiere earlier this month at the MAMI Year Round Programme Home Theatre where it got unanimous appreciation. It also previously received the Hubert Bals Fund for script and project development and a grant under the Netherlands Film Fund + Hubert Bals Fund Co-Production Scheme making it the first Indo-Dutch co-production. Arun Karthick’s debut film, Sivapuranam (The Strange Case of Shiva) also had its premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival’s India Story section in 2015 and later had its International Premiere at IFFR. “Nasir narrates the peaceful anonymity of modest lives, and more sorrowfully, the vengeful and arrogant anonymity of the mob. This film is our response to the scary reality we live in - the continuing inhuman oppression of the minorities in India. We thank Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival for showcasing Indian cinema in this unique and trendsetting event!

This online global film festival reinforces that we are indeed in a changing world. Wishing this festival a grand success, we are one!” said Arun Karthick. Prateek Vats’ Eeb Allay Ooo! swept the awards at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival last year. It was part of the India Gold section where it won the Golden Gateway Award, the Special Jury Mention for Best Actor (Male) for Shardul Bhardwaj, and the Young Critics Choice Award. Eeb Allay Ooo! later travelled to the Berlin International Film Festival where it screened in the prestigious Panorama section. Prateek Vats’ debut documentary, A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings had its World Premiere at the festival’s India Story section in 2017. Talking about the film’s selection, Prateek Vats said, “It is an absolute honour to be selected by MAMI for We Are One: A Global Film Festival. At a time of global distress, an endeavour like this is commendable and on behalf of our entire team, l would like to take this opportunity to thank all the partner festivals for their efforts and support. I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the people at MAMI for giving us this platform to showcase our film to the audiences all over the world. The absolute and unflinching support that MAMI has offered us since the beginning has reiterated our belief that film festivals like MAMI can and are ensuring that independent Indian cinema is presented at the biggest platforms possible and showcased alongside some of the best that contemporary world cinema has to offer. It is our absolute pleasure and privilege to be a small part of this global effort.” Atul Mongia’s Awake had its Asia Premiere at the MAMI Year Round Programme Home Theatre where it garnered many plaudits. Atul is also a casting director and acting mentor who has mentored the actors in films like A Death in the Gunj and Moothon (The Elder One), both of which were the Opening Films of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in the years 2016 and 2019 respectively.

Awake is also the acting debut of the accomplished photographer, Ishika Mohan Motwane. “I am extremely honoured that my short film Awake is part of the We Are One: A Global Film Festival. Thank you Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube, for this initiative. And special gratitude to the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image that selected my film for this great ensemble that includes films curated by Cannes, Venice, BFI London Film Festival, Toronto, Sarajevo, Berlin, Sundance, Guadalajara, and other great film festivals of the world,” said Atul Mongia. Shaan Vyas’ directorial debut, Natkhat will have its World Premiere at We Are One: A Global Film Festival. Shaan has also been a producer on films like Shahid and Haraamkhor, both of which premiered in the festival’s India Gold section in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Natkhat stars Vidya Balan, who is also the co-producer of the film along with Ronnie Screwvala.

“Natkhat was triggered by a news article about a horrid incident that propelled me and my creative partner, Annukampa Harsh, to create something with a view to affect change. We Are One: A Global Film Festival is a terrific initiative. It’s unprecedented and it will bring the global film community together to experience this event as one big family. It’s indeed a huge privilege for us to have our World Premiere on a platform where the biggest film festivals come together for films and COVID relief. Huge thanks to MAMI for really nurturing Indian cinema and for selecting us and to my stellar producers RSVP and Vidya Balan for having faith in a short film,” said Shaan Vyas. “We are so excited to share the combined efforts of our festival partners and YouTube with the world this week,” said Tribeca Enterprises and Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal. “Together, we were able to curate a compelling slate of programming that succinctly reflects the subtle variations in style that make each festival so special. We Are One: A Global Film Festival will offer audiences an opportunity to not only celebrate the art of film, but the unique qualities that make each story we watch so memorable.” “One of the beautiful things about films and other visual content is the ability to tell stories and bring people together, no matter where they live or where they’re from. This is a phenomenon we’ve seen at YouTube throughout the years but especially today, as people look to connect and be entertained,” said Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer, YouTube.

“The programming coordinated by Tribeca Enterprises for We Are One: A Global Film Festival has that magical ability to transport viewers from all around the world to a special moment in time, through the unique lens that our esteemed festival partners bring.” The global festival will include programming curated by and unique to the identity of all participating festival partners, including: Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Guadalajara International Film Festival, International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM), International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), Jerusalem Film Festival, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival. “Cinema is not only a collective work, but also a shared experience. In these times of social distancing, the spirit of cooperation and a sense of community are needed more than ever before. Therefore, we are happy to participate in the We Are One initiative. We wish all those wonderful artists that their audiences will be able to see their work on the big screen again soon,” said the Berlinale Director Duo Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. "We are honoured and happy to join We Are One, as a sign of friendship and solidarity for our friends of Tribeca, at the same time offering to the worldwide audience a taste of what we do in Venice in order to support new filmmakers concretely,” added Venice Film Festival Director Alberto Barbera.

True to its mission, We Are One: A Global Film Festival will seek to bring artists, creators and curators together around an international event that celebrates the exquisite art of storytelling. In doing so, it will aim to provide not only solace and entertainment for audiences during a time when it’s needed most, but also opportunities for these individuals to give back through donations to the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNHCR, Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, Leket Israel, GO Foundation and Give2Asia, among others. Audiences will be able to donate to COVID-19 relief efforts through a donate button or link on every film page. The full festival schedule is available at www.weareoneglobalfestival.com.