MAMI and Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films reunite to celebrate cinematic excellence in short film storytelling

Mumbai, India, July 08, 2024:  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 19th to 24th in Mumbai. 

Commenting on this, 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.

Below are a few competition rules that must be followed.

● The filmmaker must be an Indian national or belong to the Indian diaspora.

● The participating short film must be under 20 minutes, including opening and end credits.

● The premiere of this short film, if selected, will only take place at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024

● The short film will need a CBFC certificate; in case the certificate is not available, the

screening will be subject to an exemption from the Ministry of I&B, Govt. of India.

● More details are available on the MAMI and Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Film website, www.mumbaifilmfestival.com I www.largeshortfilms-mami.com

About Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films:

Over the years, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films has elevated the art of short films, championing select and distinctive original narratives for discerning viewers. Through collaborations with successful storytellers known for their originality and creativity, the platform has established a dynamic environment where aspiring and established directors alike bring exceptional storytelling to audiences.

In the last few years, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films has released some of the most genre-defining, award-winning short films featuring renowned artists and directors. Ahalya, Chutney, Devi and Anukul are just some of the critically acclaimed and widely recognized films that have been released on the platform, becoming ‘the’ destination for Indian short films where viewers can experience the taste of great cinema.

About MAMI:

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), has brought the best of contemporary world cinema and talent to the city of Mumbai since 1997. With its new expanded vision to spotlight South Asian and South Asian diaspora filmmakers, MAMI becomes the hub for South Asia, discovering and connecting emerging talent to the worldwide festival ecosystem. Along with celebrating cinematic excellence, we aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas and provide easy access to information related to filmmaking, film distribution, business opportunities, and strategic marketing support for films and filmmakers. The Academy also conducts a robust Year Round Programme that acts as a hub for creators and cinephiles through screenings, networking opportunities, access to labs and workshops for skill development, masterclasses, and, very importantly, creating a community of cinema lovers.

MAMI Year Round Programme (YRP) is a series of year-round activities that keep our members connected with all things cinema. MAMI Members, a huge community of cinephiles, aspiring and working filmmakers, technicians, and new audiences interested in films from around the world, can access the programme that is focused on building cinema-watching communities. We invite our members to watch, discuss, and connect over films from across the world and from the MAMI archives. The Year Round Programme also brings in specially designed programmes throughout the year that are designed to enhance awareness and conversations around cinema from South Asia and across the world.

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