The Draft Colaba

By A Draft Colaba Correspondent

The 17th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation Films began with a colourful opening ceremony at Nehru Centre, Worli in Mumbai on 29 May 2022.

SHOW TIME: 17th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival opened with a colourful ceremony in Mumbai

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal inaugurated the seven-day festival organised by the Films Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. To ensure wider participation, MIFF 2022 has been organised in hybrid mode this year where online viewing of films is free for all the registered participants.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur addressed the attendees through a vide message and said, "Documentary cinema creates the most significant impact. It not only educates inspires and motivates a change in the society, but also acts as a tool that transcends cultures and boundaries." The Minister also mentioned that MIFF provides a platform where documentary filmmakers from all over the world get to exchange ideas and explore the possibilities of co-productions and marketing of documentary, short and animation films. He said that this opportunity broadens filmmakers' vision vis-à-vis world cinema.

INAUGURATION: Union Minister Piyush Goyal lighting the lamp during MIFF 2022 opening ceremony

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan in his address spoke about the efforts made to promote Indian Cinema globally. He also pointed out how India has made a greater presence at the Cannes Film Festival and said Shaunak Sen’s film ‘All That Breathes’ made India proud by winning the Best Documentary award. The Minister said that the government has announced incentives for international filmmakers and co-productions especially for feature films, animation films, documentary films and web-series. “AVGC sector promotion is happening in a great way. PM's call for Digital India and Startup India and Indian contingent at Cannes showcased our culture and ethos,” he proudly recalled.

Minister of State for Railways, Coal and Mines Raosaheb Danve, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Kapil Patil, Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Karad, award winning filmmaker Shaji Karun, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Neerja Shekhar, filmmaker Kiran Shantaram, filmmaker Rahul Rawail and actor Dalip Tahil attended the opening ceremony among others.

VIBRANT: Several dignitaries were present for the inaugural ceremony of the 17th MIFF in Mumbai

Lifetime Achievement Award Conferred to Sanjit Narwekar

At the opening ceremony of MIFF 2022, veteran documentary filmmaker and author Sanjit Narwekar was conferred the coveted Dr V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to films through his writings especially on film history and the documentary films movement. Donning multiple hats as an insightful film historian, a prolific author as well as a dexterous editor and filmmaker, Narwekar has rendered a seminal contribution to the uplifting of good cinema and fine art and of the documentary films movement in particular. Through his lifelong and passionate engagement with the past, the present and the future of films, Narwekar has touched many hearts and ignited many minds towards the good, the great and the beautiful.

FELICITATED: Documentary filmmaker and author Sanjit Narwekar (in white shawl) at MIFF 2022

Winner of National Award for the Best Book on Cinema in 1996, Sanjit Narwekar’s passion for film history has manifested in his writing and editing more than 20 books on cinema, including ‘Marathi Cinema in Retrospect’ which won him the Swarna Kamal at the National Film Awards. He is credited with directing Films Division’s ‘The Pioneering Spirit: Dr. V Shantaram’, a biopic of the legendary film maker and writing and directing a number of documentaries on varied subjects. He has also served on the selection committee and jury of many national and international film festivals including the National Award Jury for Writing on Cinema.

The V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award carries a cash prize of Rs ten lakhs, Golden Conch and a citation. This award was instituted in memory of legendary filmmaker V Shantaram who was closely associated with Films Division as an Honorary Chief Producer during the 1950s.

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