Pune, 20 June 2024
The Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) marked a historic milestone by hosting its first-ever screenings outside Mumbai. This strategic move aims to bring prominence to world-class documentaries, short fictions and animation films and make them available to a broader audience.
Pune witnessed its first ever MIFF red carpet at the NFDC-National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI), drawing cinephiles and dignitaries from the region. Esteemed filmmakers Jabbar Patel and Pran Kishore Kaul graced the red carpet, adding gravitas to the evening. Their presence underscored MIFF's commitment to celebrating cinematic excellence and fostering a vibrant film culture across India.
The evening's highlight was the screening of the festival's opening film, "Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story." Billy & Molly delves deep into the workings of the human (and otter) heart, becoming a rumination on what it means to give and receive love, and questioning the limits of how far one can or should go in its pursuit. After the screening Shri. Jabbar Patel thanked NFDC for the invitation and said, “Billy and Molly is a fantastic documentary that captures the emotions between a childless man and an otter, and National Geographic's cinematography uplifts the cinematic experience even more. The decision to hold MIFF screenings outside of Mumbai was a step in the right direction” reminiscing about the Archive and he added, “This place is like my home, and I feel so proud of the archive because you have preserved the best of indian cinema here, the government and the NFDC have done a great job in resurrecting movies that were practically lost”
MIFF's decision to host screenings in Pune signifies a significant step towards decentralizing cultural events and making high-quality cinema accessible to a broader audience. This initiative is expected to foster a deeper appreciation for documentary, short fiction and animation films as an art form and encourage budding filmmakers and cinema lovers alike.
A Spokesperson from the NFDC-NFAI said, “For the 18th edition of MIFF, the NFDC-National Film Archive of India has presented a package of five films that have been digitally restored in 4K under the National Film Heritage Mission. Satyajit's Ray's Pikoo (1980), Ritwik Ghatak's Fear (1965), a rarely seen film which was made at FTII, Deepak Haldankar's film Where Time Stands Still (1978) on the adivasis of Abhujmad and B.R. Shendge's The Art of Animation (1982). In addition, the digitally restored version of Santosh Sivan's debut documentary The Story of Tiblu (1988) has also been presented at the 18th MIFF.” These movies will be screened at the NFDC-NFAI theater on Saturday, 22nd June.
National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) - National Film Archive of India (NFAI) are premier organizations in India dedicated to the development, preservation, and promotion of Indian cinema. With a comprehensive archive of cinematic works and a commitment to fostering creative talent, NFDC-NFAI continues to contribute significantly to the growth and enrichment of the Indian film industry.
The National Film Heritage Mission is an initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, aimed at restoring, preserving, and digitizing India's cinematic treasures. By reviving and safeguarding invaluable films, the mission ensures their accessibility to future generations, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the richness of Indian cinema.