Latest new, information on Breaking news, Top stories, Headlines, Financial news, Market news, Economic news, Business news, Sports news, Entertainment news, Technology news, Science news, Health news, Travel news, Food news, Fashion news, Lifestyle news, World news, Local news, Blog posts, Web stories, Reviews, Guides, How-tos, FAQs
MAMI Mumbai Film Festival reunites with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films to create a platform to celebrate excellence in short films. This collaboration not only provides upcoming filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global platform but also highlights brilliance in filmmaking, acting, and introduces innovative uses of technology for the first time, pushing the boundaries of creativity. This competitive section is open to Indian Nationals or those belonging to the Indian diaspora, accepting short films (fiction, documentaries, or animation) with runtimes under 20 minutes.
A selection committee will shortlist the top 10 entries, which will then be evaluated by a jury panel to determine winners across three categories. Selected short films will have the honor of being showcased at the prestigious MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, scheduled to take place from October 19 to 24 in Mumbai.
Commenting on the same, Deepti DCunha, Artistic Director, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, said, “This partnership with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is truly exceptional and has flourished over the years. Renowned for its original short films that have garnered numerous awards, Large Short Films has solidified its position as India’s go-to platform for short filmmaking. This makes it an ideal showcase for MAMI’s curated selection. In the past, we have discovered some incredible talent from across India and had the opportunity to showcase their work on the big screen to a large and diverse audience. As short films become the preferred medium to consume stories and unique narratives, we are excited to reunite with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films and bring these authentic and diverse stories to a larger audience. Our aim remains to make it a truly enriching experience for our participating filmmakers as well as film enthusiasts who continue to support us every year. The competition furthers our vision to serve as a platform for the best and brightest filmmakers, both established and emerging, to come together and celebrate excellence in South Asian cinema and talent.”
Gaining immense popularity across the world, the short film format has created a dedicated and loyal audience base. It allows new and established filmmakers space to experiment with narratives that don’t follow the beaten path. Short films also serve as springboards for emerging filmmakers to start their cinematic journey, allowing them the opportunity to weave engaging narratives across genres and showcase their potential and vision without the usual constraints of traditional filmmaking. Audiences have always appreciated and supported short films at MAMI, and many of the short film winners have gone on to become prominent filmmakers. This year is no different as MAMI X Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films promises to showcase some truly fascinating short stories at the upcoming film festival.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee talks about Joram at Jio MAMI Festival; also THUNDERS: “Whenever a big star delivers a potboiler, media goes CRAZY about it. They are only guessing about the first-day collections, first weekend collections. My learning is that don’t fight with this (system)”
Actress Taapsee Pannu recently expressed disappointment with her production venture, the 2023 film Dhak Dhak. Starring Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Dia Mirza, and Sanjana Sanghi, the film had a lacklustre theatrical run despite featuring a talented ensemble cast.
Dhak Dhak’s problems began before its release. The film’s marketing campaign was practically non-existent, with the trailer dropping four days ahead of its October 13, 2023 premiere. This lack of promotion foreshadowed the issues that would plague the film. Pannu, who also served as a co-producer for Dhak Dhak, took a drastic step – she disassociated herself from the film’s promotion by removing all related posts from her social media.
In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Pannu finally revealed the reason behind her actions. It turned out her frustration stemmed from the co-producers abandoning the film after recouping their investment. “It was very heartbreaking,” Pannu confessed. “I did not become a producer to have an alternate career. I was doing pretty well as an actor.
Pannu emphasized that she ventured into production to back films she wasn’t directly involved in as an actress. Dhak Dhak, a film she wasn’t starring in, represented this vision. However, the experience left a bitter taste in her mouth.
She explained the harsh reality of the film industry for smaller productions. “If it’s not a big-budget film, studios recover the money before the film hits theatres,” Pannu said.
This lack of post-production support has a domino effect. With studios disinterested in spending on prints and advertising (P&A), exhibitors become hesitant to screen the film. They see it as a niche offering with limited commercial appeal, leading them to allocate unfavourable show timings and theatres. Dhak Dhak reportedly suffered from such treatment, with abrupt removals mid-week further hindering its chances of finding an audience.
“We started showing the film 4-5 days after the film’s trailer came out,” Pannu said, highlighting the film’s uphill battle from the very beginning. “People started coming to us saying they’ll help promote it.” Despite the public’s willingness to support the film, Pannu felt abandoned by her co-producers who, according to her, lacked the commitment to see the project through.
“They instead said, ‘Why bother? It’s already made its money and now it will find its audience’,” Pannu recounted, expressing her disappointment with their attitude.
However, a silver lining emerged amidst the frustration. The film’s four lead actresses, including Pannu herself, stood by Dhak Dhak. Dia Mirza, in a commendable act of solidarity, even offered her home as a venue for promotional interviews with the cast. “I have never seen many actors taking ownership of a film like that,” Pannu said, expressing her pride in being associated with such dedicated colleagues.
Dhak Dhak is a story about four ordinary women and their journey of self-discovery as they take a biking trip from Delhi to Khardung La.
ALSO READ: 3 Years of Haseen Dillruba: Kanika Dhillon celebrates milestone with Taapsee Pannu; calls it “Roller coaster journey”
Actor Prabhas is gearing up for his highly anticipated next film, Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. While details surrounding the project remain under wraps, recent reports have sent fans into a frenzy with the possibility of a global collaboration.
Spirit Makers Rope In Ma Dong-seok as Villain?
According to rumors circulating online, the Spirit team is aiming for a pan-Asian reach by incorporating Korean elements. This includes casting a Korean actor as the villain and bringing in Korean stunt choreographers. The name doing the rounds for the antagonist’s role is Ma Dong-seok, a Korean-American actor known for his powerful performances in films like Train to Busan and The Outlaws.
Fans Excited About Prabhas vs. Ma Dong-seok
While official confirmation is pending, the prospect of Prabhas facing off against Ma Dong-seok has ignited excitement among fans. Ma Dong-seok’s impressive filmography, showcasing his versatility in both action and dramatic roles, fuels the anticipation for a potentially epic on-screen rivalry.
Prabhas’ 25th Film: A Hard-Hitting Cop Story
Spirit marks Prabhas’ 25th film and promises to showcase him in a hard-hitting role as a sincere cop. The makers will, reportedly, reveal the first look on Prabhas’ birthday, October 23, 2024.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@sandeepreddy.vanga)
Produced by T-Series and Sandeep Vanga on a grand scale, Spirit is expected to be released in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, reflecting its ambitions of captivating audiences across Asia.
Currently, Prabhas is making headlines for his latest release, Kalki 2898 AD. Directed by Nag Ashwin, it also stars Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan. The film will also have a sequel, reportedly, to be released in 2025.
Also Read: Animal trailer launch: Ranbir Kapoor teases universe possibilities including Prabhas starrer Spirit; Sandeep Reddy Vanga REACTS, watch