Overview
The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), is India's primary internationally accredited film festival. Founded in 1997, it holds FIAPF Competitive Specialised accreditation, making it one of only a handful of Indian festivals recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. The festival is the main gateway for international cinema entering the Indian market and for South Asian filmmakers seeking global industry attention.
The 2025 edition was cancelled. Festival director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur announced on July 21, 2025 that MAMI would skip a year to restructure and return in 2026 with a new logo and a stronger focus on independent and regional Indian cinema. The 2026 dates had not been announced as of July 2025.
The most recent completed edition ran October 19 to 24, 2024, screening approximately 110 films across more than 50 languages at PVR INOX and Regal Cinema. The 2024 edition was the first without a title sponsor since 2014, after Jio ended its naming sponsorship. The reduced budget cut the lineup from over 250 films in 2023 to roughly 110 in 2024.
Submission Details
MAMI has historically accepted open submissions for its South Asia and World Cinema sections through its online portal at mumbaifilmfestival.com. The 2023 submission structure included the following sections:
- South Asia Competition - feature-length films from South Asian and South Asian diaspora filmmakers (competitive)
- Focus South Asia (Non-Competition) - non-competitive section for South Asian and diaspora films of all lengths and genres
- World Cinema - feature-length international films (non-competitive)
- Dimensions Mumbai - competitive short film section for filmmakers aged 18 to 25, films up to 5 minutes on the theme of Mumbai
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films - competitive short film section for Indian filmmakers, films up to 20 minutes
Submission deadlines for the 2023 edition had an extended deadline of July 20, 2023. Submission fees and specific eligibility requirements for the 2026 edition have not yet been published. Filmmakers should monitor the official MAMI website for the 2026 submission call.
Eligibility notes (based on 2023/2024 rules):
- South Asia Competition and Focus South Asia are open to filmmakers from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora
- World Cinema is open to international feature-length films
- Dimensions Mumbai requires filmmakers to be aged 18 to 25 and films to be no longer than 5 minutes
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films accepts films up to 20 minutes from Indian filmmakers and the Indian diaspora
Key Sections
- South Asia Competition - the main competitive section for South Asian and diaspora feature films, with the Golden Gateway Award as top prize
- Focus South Asia (Non-Competition) - non-competitive showcase of South Asian and diaspora films across all lengths and genres
- World Cinema - non-competitive international features, running since the festival's inception in 1997
- Dimensions Mumbai - competitive short films (5 minutes max) by filmmakers aged 18 to 25, focused on the city of Mumbai
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films - competitive short film section (up to 20 minutes) for Indian filmmakers
- Restored Classics - archival screenings of restored Indian and international films, introduced in 2012
- Gala Premieres - high-profile opening and closing night screenings
- Tributes - retrospective programs dedicated to individual filmmakers
- Masterclasses - industry conversations with filmmakers and technicians
What Filmmakers Should Know
MAMI's Mumbai location puts the festival at the centre of India's film industry. International filmmakers whose work is selected gain access to agents, distributors, and producers who rarely attend Western festivals. The festival's Industry Programme (held at Soho House Mumbai in 2024 from October 21 to 23) brings together filmmakers, domain experts, and industry players for talks and workshops on craft, business, and emerging trends.
For Indian independent filmmakers, the South Asia Competition is the most valuable section. The 2024 edition programmed over 20 world premieres, 25+ Asia premieres, and 35+ South Asia premieres, giving selected films their first exposure to Mumbai's large and film-literate press corps.
Delegate registration (2024 pricing):
- General Delegate badge: INR 1,500 (approximately $18 USD) plus taxes
- Senior Citizen badge: INR 1,000 (approximately $12 USD) plus taxes
- Press badge: free with approval
- Industry/Filmmaker/Gold badges: tiered access to the Industry Programme and Festival Hub
Registration for delegates typically opens in the first week of October via BookMyShow.
Major Awards
- Golden Gateway Award - Best Film in the South Asia Competition, includes a trophy and INR 25,00,000 cash prize
- Silver Gateway Award - second prize in the South Asia Competition
- Special Jury Prize - jury discretion award in the South Asia Competition
- NETPAC Award - awarded by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema
- Excellence in Cinema Award (South Asia and International) - career achievement recognition
- Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award - for films demonstrating gender sensitivity
- Dimensions Mumbai Gold Award - trophy and INR 1,00,000 (approximately $1,200 USD)
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Film Best Film Award - trophy and INR 1,00,000
- IMDb Audience Choice Award - voted by festival audiences
Festival History
MAMI was founded in 1997 as the Festival of Films - Mumbai by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image, a public trust. The festival was sponsored by Reliance Entertainment from 2008 to 2013. When that agreement ended, the festival nearly shut down. A 2014 crowdfunding effort led by Bollywood celebrities kept it alive, and Reliance-owned Jio and Star India subsequently became title sponsors.
The 2020 edition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival returned in 2022 as an online-only edition, then relaunched as an in-person event in 2023 with a new focus on South Asian filmmaking, a new festival centre, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as chairperson. The 2023 edition ran October 27 to November 5 and screened over 250 films.
Jio's title sponsorship ended after the 2023 edition. Anupama Chopra stepped down as festival director, and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur took over. Dungarpur cancelled the 2025 edition to restructure and has stated the festival will return in 2026 with a stronger commitment to independent and regional Indian cinema.
Past Winners
| Year | Award | Film | Director | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Golden Gateway | Rhythm of a Flower (Phool Ka Chand) | Amit Dutta | Hand-drawn animation about Indian classical singer Kumar Gandharva. Dutta is an auteur featured at Venice, Rotterdam, Berlin, and Jeonju. |
| 2024 | Silver Gateway | Nocturnes | Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan | Documentary on Himalayan moths. Won Special Jury Award for Craft at Sundance 2024. Distributed by Grasshopper Film in the US. |
| 2024 | Special Jury Prize | The Fable | Raam Reddy | Stars Manoj Bajpayee. Debuted at Berlinale. On a global festival run including Valladolid's SEMINCI. |
| 2024 | NETPAC Award, Gender Sensitivity Award, Young Critics Choice | Girls Will Be Girls | Shuchi Talati | Coming-of-age drama. Premiered at Sundance 2024 where it won two awards. Released by Juno Films in the US. |
| 2024 | Excellence in Cinema | Shabana Azmi | - | Career achievement recognition for 50 years in cinema. |
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- All We Imagine as Light (Payal Kapadia, 2024) - opened MAMI 2024. Won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024, the first Indian film to do so. Distributed by Janus Films in the US. Streamed on the Criterion Channel.
- Girls Will Be Girls (Shuchi Talati, 2024) - won three awards at MAMI (NETPAC, Gender Sensitivity, Young Critics Choice). Premiered at Sundance 2024 where it won the World Cinema Audience Award. Released by Juno Films in the US and Modern Films in the UK. Streamed on Prime Video.
- Nocturnes (Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan, 2024) - won Silver Gateway at MAMI. Won Special Jury Award for Craft at Sundance 2024. Distributed by Grasshopper Film in the US. Streamed on the Criterion Channel.
- The Fable (Raam Reddy, 2024) - won Special Jury Prize at MAMI. Debuted at Berlinale. Stars Manoj Bajpayee.
- Anora (Sean Baker, 2024) - closed MAMI 2024 as the South Asia premiere. Won the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2024.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
MAMI's South Asia Competition is the most valuable section for Indian and South Asian filmmakers. The Golden Gateway Award includes a cash prize of INR 25,00,000 (approximately $3,000 USD). Submit here if your film is a South Asian or diaspora feature.
The 2026 edition is expected to push independent cinema into world competition. Monitor the official MAMI website for the 2026 submission call, as the restructuring may change eligibility rules.
Dimensions Mumbai is an accessible entry point for filmmakers aged 18 to 25. Films must be no longer than 5 minutes and focused on Mumbai. The Gold Award includes INR 1,00,000 (approximately $1,200 USD).
MAMI does not operate a traditional film market. However, the Industry Programme creates informal market conditions. Sales agents attend because Mumbai is the commercial capital of Indian cinema.
Industry Reputation Notes
MAMI holds FIAPF Competitive Specialised accreditation, placing it alongside festivals like Karlovy Vary and Locarno. It is one of only a few Indian festivals recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
Compared to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, MAMI is more focused on independent and art house cinema. IFFI is government-backed and larger in scale. MAMI is privately organized and has more industry credibility among independent filmmakers.
Compared to the Busan International Film Festival, MAMI is smaller and more regionally focused. Busan is the dominant festival for Asian cinema with a larger industry market. MAMI's strength is its location in Mumbai, giving it direct access to Bollywood producers and distributors.
The 2025 cancellation creates uncertainty. However, Dungarpur's commitment to independent and regional Indian cinema signals a potential shift toward more curated programming.
Watch
See Also
To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. To estimate your probability of acceptance based on festival tier and film characteristics, use the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For understanding the Indian film market, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
