200 films from 56 countries in Mumbai Film Festival

Mumbai : The MAMI committee led by Chairman  Shyam Benegal and trustees Yash Chopra,  Jaya Bachchan,  Amit Khanna, Shabana Azmi and  Amol Palekar today unveiled the line-up for the 11th annual Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), which consists of 200 films from 56 countries. All of the international films to be screened in the main sections of this year’s festival will be Indian, Asian or world premieres. MFF is a Reliance Big Entertainment initiative and has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister of India  Ambika Soni will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony, to be held at the Fun Cinema, Andheri on October 29. Shashi Kapoor will be honoured with the Indian Lifetime achievement award along with legendary Indian director-producer Yash Chopra who will be felicitated by FIAPF, the international federation of film producers association.

Shyam Benegal, chairman, MAMI said,  "We're very pleased to bring home the best of world cinema at Mumbai Film Festival in any given year. This year too, at the 11th MFF we are delighted to announce and welcome the best films from around the world. This year, we are also trying to increase youth participation in the festival by organizing various activities to involve them."

Films in competition will be viewed on 8 screens at Fun Cinemas (Andheri), Metro BIG Cinemas (Marine Lines) & BIG Cinemas R City (Ghatkopar) and judged by MFF 2009 Jury Members including: renowned Hollywood screenwriter and director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, American Gigolo), Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, Philippine filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, Indian filmmaker Shaji N. Karun and former Director of Locarno Film Festival Irene Bignardi.

Academy-Award Winning Director Steven Soderbergh’s feature film ‘The Informant,’ will open the 2009 festival on Thursday, October 29. ‘The Informant’ is a dark political comedy based on true events and the 2000 non-fiction book of the same name by journalist Kurt Eichenwald. The film stars Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey and tells the story of Mark .