~ Director Vasan Bala, Actor Farhan Akhtar, Writer Varun Grover, Cinematographer Avinash Arun & Editor Nitin Baid come together to give Jio MAMI with Star, in its 18th year, a unique Campaign Film that focuses on the film lover ~

The Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star celebrates the film lover this year in a special film that declares the registrations to the festival OPEN! Capturing the multitude of emotions that people feel while watching movies, this film plays out like a love letter of sorts to film lovers.

In keeping with the theme of the film, it has been put together by film lovers, fanatic Mumbai Film Festival goers and now the breakout talent in the industry. Directed and conceptualised by Vasan Bala (known for The Lunchbox (2013), Bombay Velvet (2015) and Dev D (2009), Bala made his debut with Peddlers which was selected in competition at the Critics Week at Cannes Film Festival in 2012 and won him rave reviews. Most recently, he wrote Raman Raghav 2.0 along with Anurag Kayshap), shot by Avinash Arun (Drishyam, Madaari, Masaan), Edited by Nitin Baid (Masaan and Waiting), written by Varun Grover (Masaan, NH10, Zubaan). What makes this campaign film even more special is the voiceover provided by actor-director Farhan Akhtar.

Director  Vasan Bala says, “Film Lover first” (real cast, real emotions, real film) – Be it a Herzog audience or an Innaritu audience or a Manmohan Desai audience, the viewer watches and immerses herself or himself in a way which is very intimate and unique to that viewer. The idea was to just maybe capture a glimpse of that with no judgement or manipulation. Also even people who create are Film Lovers First and will probably remain that forever.”

The campaign film features die hard film buffs, as the stars of the movie and were filmed watching various film clips with their emotions and reactions being caught LIVE and unfiltered. The Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star Campaign film will be released across multiple platforms and will be screened in PVR Cinemas across the country.

Anupama Chopra, Festival Director, MAMI, said, “It’s such an honour to have one of India’s most talented filmmakers, Vasan Bala, and his team create a film for MAMI.  We are grateful for his generosity and support. And a big shout-out to the film buffs who made the film what it is-a tribute to our common passion-cinema.”

Cinematographer Avinash Arun says, “This was a refreshing campaign where we turned the camera onto film lovers and let them tell the story. It’s fantastic to see a glimpse of that on the silver screen through the audience reaction. We kept it simple.”

Smriti Kiran, Creative Director, MAMI, said, “I wept when I saw the first cut. The film touches you because there is an instant connect. It is about you and everyone else who loves cinema. This one is even more special because it is made by this insanely talented intrepid gang of film geeks who are slowly and silently changing the game in the industry: Director Vasan Bala, Writer Varun Grover, Director & Cinematographer Avinash Arun and Editor Nitin Baid. Farhan Akhtar agreed to do the voice over in a nano second. Just goes to show the incredible passion that is felt for the festival. No words can express the gratitude we feel for this overwhelming unselfish support.”

Scriptwriter Varun Grover says, “No film is complete without viewers finally watching it. The campaign ‘Film Lovers First’ aims to bring the most essential part of a film – its viewer – in the limelight and celebrate the human emotions this relationship facilitates… MAMI is our annual adda of film lovers – in fact the only ‘festival’ that I celebrate and wait for.”

Editor Nitin Baid adds, “Watching films is an extremely intimate and personal experience for me. Some films give you the best sleep ever and some mingle with your emotions but each time there’s a tiny moment that’s personal to you only.”

The Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star will be held in Mumbai from October 20th– 27th, 2016. The film screenings will take place at PVR Versova, PVR Citi Mall – Andheri, PVR Market City – Kurla, PVR – Mulund, PVR LP – Phoenix Mills, Le Reve (Globus) – Bandra and Regal – Colaba.

To register for the festival, viewers can register online at  https://in.bookmyshow.com/mami/ Or at registration counters at the festival venues listed above.

For more information visit www.mumbaifilmfestival.com