Jio MAMI Film Festival to honor Mani Ratnam, Luca Guadagnino
What's the story
The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will honor Indian director and producer Mani Ratnam and Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino with the Excellence in Cinema Awards during its opening ceremony on Friday.
Both esteemed filmmakers will also lead masterclasses, reportedly.
In the past, distinguished directors and actors such as Darren Aronofsky, Sharmila Tagore, and Chen Kaige have been honored with this award.
Highlights
Highlights: Masterclasses by Ratnam and Guadagnino; screening of 'Ponniyin Selvan'
A major highlight of this year's Jio MAMI festival will be the masterclasses led by Ratnam and Guadagnino.
These sessions will offer attendees a rare glimpse into the directors' creative processes and a chance to learn from two of the industry's most respected figures.
The festival will also feature screenings of Ratnam's latest historical dramas, Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 and 2, and Guadagnino's Golden Globe-nominated film, I Am Love.
Statement
Anupama Chopra on honoring Ratnam and Guadagnino
Anupama Chopra, Festival Director of Jio MAMI, shared her thoughts on the awards, stating, "It's a privilege to award these formidable artists. They have redefined and expanded our ideas of what cinema can be. We look forward to having them at Jio MAMI."
The festival will run from Friday until November 5.
About the festival
Jio MAMI returns after a three-year hiatus: Everything to know
The Jio MAMI festival is returning after a three-year hiatus, promising a cinematic celebration like no other.
With a lineup of over 250 films spread across 20 screens at eight different venues, it's set to be a cinephile's dream come true.
Some of the highly-anticipated titles set to screen include Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster, Bradley Cooper's Maestro, Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy, and Justine Triet's Palme d'Or-winning Anatomy of a Fall.
The festival's opening film is The Buckingham Murders, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Career
'Mouna Ragam' to 'Nayakan': Celebrating Ratnam's illustrious career
In his four-decade-long iconic career, Ratnam has emerged as one of the most revered directors in South Asia.
Each of his films is a layered masterpiece, delving into complex characters and thought-provoking themes deeply rooted in the cultural and social context.
Ratnam's ever-expanding repertoire boasts titles such as Mouna Ragam (1986), Nayakan (1987), Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), Iruvar (1997), Alaipayuthey (2000), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Guru (2007), and Ponniyin Selvan (2022, 2023).
Notable contributions
Here's a quick look at Guadagnino's repertoire
Guadagnino's body of work includes critically acclaimed and award-nominated films such as I Am Love (2009), the Academy Award-winning masterpiece Call Me By Your Name (2017), and the feature documentary Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams (2020).
His most recent offering, Bones and All (2022) earned him the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival last year.
Fans are anticipating his forthcoming film, Challengers, starring Zendaya—scheduled for release in April 2024.