Business opens with Antichrist at 11th Mumbai Film Festival
By Madhup. Chandigarh, 5th November: The 11th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) on 6th day brought good financial news for the organizing body and augured well for the business potential of such a platform for the film industry. MFF is a Reliance Big Entertainment initiative and has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals. Business kicked off at MAMI’s Film Business Centre with the ‘Antichrist’ home video rights being bought over by Enlighten Film Society, an NGO dedicated to the cause of spreading good cinema by screening great National and International films. This year MFF has introduced the Film Business Centre as a modest first step towards setting up a full-fledged “Film Market”.
Films in competition at MFF are being viewed on 8 screens at Fun Cinemas (Andheri), Metro BIG Cinemas (Marine Lines) & BIG Cinemas R City (Ghatkopar) and judged by MFF 2009 Jury Members including: renowned Hollywood screenwriter and director Mr. Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, American Gigolo), Iranian filmmaker Mr. Jafar Panahi, Philippine filmmaker Mr. Brillante Mendoza, Indian filmmaker Mr. Shaji N. Karun and former Director of Locarno Film Festival Ms. Irene Bignardi.
This year MFF carries one of the richest cash awards for its International Competition for Directors who are Debuting Feature Films with a cash prize of US$ 100,000 (approx. Rs. 50, 00,000). Additional awards include the Golden Gateway of India trophy for the Best Film, the Silver Gateway of India trophy and cash prize of USD $50,000 (approx. Rs. 25, 00,000) for the Jury Grand Prize. The best talent from these films will be awarded the Silver Gateway of India trophy and all films in this category are Indian premiers. Lastly, this year MAMI is introducing the Audience Choice Award [Silver Gateway of India trophy and cash prize of USD $20,000 (approx. Rs. 10, 00,000)]. Films from all sections except the retrospective and tributes are eligible.
While speaking on acquiring the home video sale for Antichrist, Enlighten Society Chairman Mr. Pranav Ashar said, “Currently the culture of watching foreign language movies is missing in India. Hence we have to spread the culture among the people of watching these kinds of films that will help them to understand various cultures all across the globe.”
“It aim is to provide a networking platform for the Indian distributors, producers, television channels and the foreign sales agents, festival directors and producers to enhance the international sales of Indian films under the aegis of the Mumbai Film Festival” he further added.
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