Oscar worthy Shorts and Docs, Restoration and Preservation by Carter Pitcher
The 17th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films (MIFF-2022) is held between 29th May to 4th June, 2022 at the Films Division Complex, Mumbai.
Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan attended the Films Division Complex on the inaugural day of the seven day festival. The 17th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short Fiction, and Animation films (MIFF-2022) began with a colourful opening ceremony at the Nehru Centre, Worli in Mumbai on 29th May 2022, inaugurated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles.
Further, Mr Carter Pilcher had a Master class on ‘What Does it take to Qualify your film for the Oscars’ a one-hour engrossing session with highlights that covered the Road map to Oscars with details of rules & qualification criteria. Insights on the timelines to follow if your content has to be at the Oscars 2023.Financial tools developing for filmmakers such as Web 3.0 & NFTs. He mentioned inspiring filmmakers who made it huge from shorts to feature films like Alejandro González Iñárritu of Oscar winning Birdman and Cary Fukunaga’s journey to directing James Bond- No time to die.
Mr. Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive, Shorts TV, informed that “MIFF is clearly one of India’s premiere film festivals and especially important for the growing numbers of high quality documentary films—both shorts and features—being produced across the subcontinent. It was a great honor to discuss with so many Indian filmmakers the “road to the Oscars”! All of this amazing talent is going to produce a flood of Indian Oscar winners, and ShortsTV is giving our audiences a ringside seat on all the excitement. Mr. Ravinder Bhakar runs an amazing film bazaar and a top flight festival!”
Special screening of Netflix’s Mighty Little Bheem episode called “Mighty Little Bheem: I love Taj Mahal” followed by a master class by Krishna Mohan Chintapatla and Tirthadip Ghosh from Green Gold Animation. The master class is titled “Animating in India For The World”
Mr. Ravinder Bhakar, Managing Director NFDC India, expressed that “ Overwhelming response on the inaugural day of MIFF 2022, it has been a great honour for us to host this festival which is into its 17th edition this year, the festival has short fiction, animation & documentaries from all over the world. The insightful master classes and speaker sessions have attracted audiences to the event who are thoroughly enjoying the event. I welcome all to MIFF and hope they visit and celebrate the festival.”
MIFF has received overwhelming response from film-makers across the globe. It has 23 debut filmmakers who are premiering their short fiction, animation and documentary content. It has received 808 entries from 30 countries out of which 650 films will be screened under the National competition category. And 158 films in the international competition section. Over INR 50 lakhs in Prize Money to be won by the filmmakers. The Best Film of the Festival will receive the Golden Conch award, along with a cash prize of INR 10 lakhs. There are several other awards also in other categories from five to one lakh each. The coveted The coveted Dr. V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award with a cash award of INR 10 lakh will also be given away during the festival.
Further, a fitting tribute to the golden jubilee of the liberation of Bangladesh, it has been made ‘Country of Focus’ during the 17th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF).A special package of 11 films from Bangladesh including critically acclaimed film Hasina- A Daughter’s Tale will be presented at the festival. “Thanks to MIFF for selecting Hasina and helping it to reach the Indian audience! As a neighbour, most of our political history are interrelated and they often impact us beyond our borders! Similarly, Hasina is a portrayal which has got a lot of subcontinent significance! Where we are generally weak with political documentation, Hasina was an effort to capture a significant era of Bangladesh History! I wish MIFF a grand success! said the director Piplu Khan.
The prominent sessions on the first day included Shivendra Singh Dungarpur’s session on The Art and Ethics of Film Restoration, While addressing the masterclass on ‘The Art and Ethics of Film Restoration’ Mr Shivendra Singh Dungarpur emphasized on the five key elements of the preservation process, which includes acquisition, conservation, duplication, restoration and accessibility. He also informed that the film restoration is as much an art form as filmmaking as the restorer has to use an artist’s eye and mind to ensure that the restoration is faithful to the original creator’s vision.
Highlights –
The episode officially released on 30th May 2022 i.e today at 12:30pm IST on Netflix and it had a premier screening at MIFF, 2022 on May 30th 2022. This would mean that the 20-minute episode was premiered at MIFF, and at the same time it went live on Netflix across 190 countries.
Mighty Little Bheem is Netflix’s beloved pre-school series, made in India and revered globally by Kids & Family audiences. In 2021, Netflix and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) came together to celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage through Mighty Little Bheem
The master class revealed that “animating in India for the world” meant that we retain the Indian flavour and culture but keep the theme universal. From searching how to make laddoos online to themed birthday cakes, Mighty Little Bheem has become a favourite amongst millions of viewers across the globe since premiering in 2019. Produced by Green Gold Animation, the series authentically captures India’s culture through the adventures of the young boy from cooking Pongal to flying kites in his village.
Netflix’s series, Mighty Little Bheem does not have dialogues. It has transcended language barriers to be loved and appreciated around the world. The actions are easily understood and laced with humour and various emotions that would appeal to pre-school audiences and their families. It’s this a pure family treat from India
