The Mumbai Film Festival will take on a new format without an International Competitive section this year.
Bollywood actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas has taken over as Chairperson of Jio MAMI Film Festival, almost four months after Deepika Padukone stepped down from the position.
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) revealed its plans for the coming edition and the change in leadership.
Chopra was unanimously nominated by MAMI’s Board of Trustees which comprises Nita M Ambani (Co-Chairperson), Anupama Chopra (Festival Director), Ajay Bijli, Anand G Mahindra, Farhan Akhtar, Isha Ambani, Kabir Khan, Kaustubh Dhavse, Kiran Rao, Rana Daggubati, Riteish Deshmukh, Rohan Sippy, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vishal Bhardwaj and Zoya Akhtar.
In a statement, Priyanka Chopra Jonas said: “I’ve hit the road running… with ideas, thoughts and plans on reimagining the festival to find its rightful place in a world that has changed so much in such a short time. We’re all consuming film and entertainment very differently now and in the process, we’ve expanded the footprint of the cinema that we watch. I have always been a huge supporter and believer in films from across India and together, we hope to create a strong platform to showcase Indian cinema to the world.”
Isha Ambani, Board of Trustees, MAMI, added: “Now more than ever, we need to nurture the power of cinema and art to heal and help humanity move forward. I look forward to my dear friend Priyanka Chopra Jonas joining our team and leading the way for Jio MAMI to reach new heights. She is a multifaceted global artist and a force of nature, we are privileged to have her on board.”
The board also welcomed two new members to its fold, acclaimed filmmaker Anjali Menon and renowned filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.
Last year, the organisers of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival postponed its 22nd edition due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The hybrid edition of the festival will take place in March depending on how the Covid-19 situation is in the country. The tentative dates of the festival are March 11 to March 15, 2022.
According to the statement, Jio MAMI 2.0 will focus on creating more awards and grants for Indian films and filmmakers and letting go of the International Competition section.
