MAMI 2024: Rhythm Of A Flower & Other Films That Won Awards & Special Mentions

The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image, wrapped up on a high note with an array of awards that celebrated South Asian cinema and outstanding talent in independent filmmaking. 

MAMI 2024: Films That Won Awards & Special Mentions

The Golden Gateway Award was presented to filmmaker Amit Dutta for his film Rhythm of a Flower (Phool Ka Chhand), while the Silver Gateway Award went to Nocturnes, directed by Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan. This top-tier recognition came from the South Asia Competition jury, led by Rada Sesic and including members Clarence Tsui, Kate Laurie, Jerome Baron, and Marie Fuglestein Laegreid.

A Special Jury Prize was awarded to The Fable, directed by Raam Reddy and starring Manoj Bajpayee. Moreover, Girls Will Be Girls, directed by Shuchi Talati and produced by actor couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, received notable recognition, including a Special Mention in the competition.

It was also awarded the NETPAC Award as well as the Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award, highlighting its efforts in advancing nuanced portrayals of gender and challenging stereotypes. Additionally, the film received the Rashid Irani Young Critics Choice Award, adding further acclaim.

In the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films category, Theja Rio's Ade (On A Sunday) received the award for Best Short Film. The Special Jury Prize went to Coming Back to Life (Et Moi, Je Revis) by Mantra Watsa. This segment's jury included actors Aditi Rao Hydari and Rajshri Deshpande, along with filmmaker Hansal Mehta, applauding the impact of short-form storytelling.

The festival further honoured literary contributions to cinema, awarding The Age of Heroes: The Incredible World of Telugu Cinema by Mukesh Manjunath as the Best Book on Cinema, celebrating the depth and diversity of Indian regional cinema.

To close the evening, Sean Baker's Anora had its South Asia premiere. The film, which won the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, marked a fitting conclusion to the festival, highlighting world-class cinema’s reach and appeal across diverse audiences.