Tag: Entertainment News

18th Mumbai International Film Festival to be held from 15th to 21st June, 2024

 Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Shri Sanjay Jaju today announced that the 18th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival will be held from 15th June to 21st June, 2024 in Mumbai. He said that while venue for the festival will be the FD-NFDC Complex, Mumbai, MIFF screenings will also be held in Delhi (Sirifort Auditorium), Chennai (Tagore Film Centre), Pune (NFAI auditorium) and Kolkata (SRFTI Auditorium).

Also present on the occasion were Additional Secretary, Ms. Neerja Sekhar, PDG, PIB, Ms.  Sheyphali B. Sharan and MD, NFDC, Sh. Prithul Kumar.

MIFF Film Programming

  1. Record Film Submission of 1018 films this year for the competition sections from 38 Countries across 65 Languages
  2. 118 films selected by the 3 Selection Committees of eminent film experts for the International (25) and National (77) competition sections. The Selection Committee also unanimously remarked that very high quality of film submissions has been received this year which made the selections tough.
  3. Total 314 films in the MIFF Programming this year
  4. There will be 8 world premieres, 6 international premieres, 17 Asia premieres and 15 India Premieres.
  5. Special packages have been curated in this edition, including:
    1. Award winning films package of Oscars and Berlinale (12 short films each)
    2. ‘Special Country Focus Packages’ from collaborating with 7 countries – Russia, Japan, Belarus, Italy, Iran, Vietnam and Mali
    3. Animation package curated from 4 countries – France, Slovenia, Argentina & Greece
    4. Student films from reputed institutes from across the country (45 films)
    5. Restored classics package from the NFDC-National Film Archives of India
    6. Competition films on the special theme of India at Amrit kaal showcasing the country’s growth, development, and prosperity
    7. Films for Divyangjan package for the visually challenged with audio description and sign language descriptions and for the hearing impaired with closed captions.
    8. Selected packages of films also on –
      1. Wildlife
      2. Mission Life
      3. Films by Asian Women Filmmakers

Opening & Closing Film of MIFF

  1. Opening Film of 18th MIFF will be “Billy & Molly, an Otter Love Story”, will initiate the festival with screenings in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Chennai on 15th Jun, 2024.
  2. The Closing Film of festival is the film that wins the Golden Conch and will be showcased on 21st Jun, 2024.

Jury & Awards

  1. International jury includes eminent film personalities from across the world – Keiko Bang, Barthélemy Fougea, Audrius Stonys, Bharat Bala, and Manas Choudhary, who will award the Golden Conch for the best documentary film, the Silver Conch for the best international short fiction film and best animation film, and the Pramod Pati Award for the most innovative/experimental film.
  2. National jury for 18th MIFF comprises of notable names such as Adele Seelmann-Eggebert, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, Apoorva Bakshi, Munjal Shroff and Anna Henckel-Don nersmarck who will confer the Best Indian Documentary, Short Film, Animation, Best Debut Film Award (sponsored by Govt. of Maharashtra) and Best Student Film Award (sponsored by IDPA), in addition to a host of technical awards and a special Award for Best Short Film on “India in Amrit Kaal”.
  3. Further, 3 Technical Awards for 1) Cinematography, 2) Editing and 3) Sound Design, will be given common from National & International Competition.
  4. A FIPRESCI Jury 3 eminent film critics will also confer the award for a national competition documentary
  5. Total Awards of Rs 42 lacs.

Accessible Festival

  1. Films for the visually challenged with audio description and sign language descriptions and for the hearing impaired with closed captions.
  2. Besides the special films for the specially abled, NFDC has partnered with Svayam, a not-for-profit organisation to make the MIFF festival venue at NFDC-FD premises fully accessible for people who are differently-abled and also those who have special needs. The accessibility partnership will also ensure that volunteers at the event are sensitized to facilitate delegates with accessibility issues so as to make the experience of visiting delegates seamless.

Gala Opening /Closing Ceremony & Red Carpets

  1. Grand Opening & Closing ceremonies will be held at NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The events will see an artistic melange of cultural acts which will include an act depicting the journey of Indian animation, a cultural performance from Sri-Lanka in opening and from Argentina in closing ceremony and showcasing the FTII student short Film “Sunflowers were the first ones to know”, which won the La Cinef Award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year.
  2. Gala Red carpet screening will be held in NFDC-FD complex in Mumbai every day starting from the opening film on 15th June. The other red carpets being planned with the eminent film celebrities are Poacher, Inside Out-2, The Commandments Shadow, My Mercury, Srikant, Brand Bollywood, etc.
  3. Exclusive Red carpets will also be held at Delhi (17th Jun), Chennai (18th Jun), Kolkata (19th Jun) & Pune (20th Jun) with participation from eminent personalities from the film industry.

Masterclass & Panel Discussions:

  1. The 18th MIFF will host engaging 20 masterclasses, in-conversations and panel discussions with industry luminaries such as filmmakers Santosh Sivan, Audrius Stonys, Ketan Mehta, Richie Mehta, T.S Nagabharana, Georges Schwizgebel & many more.
  2. Open Forum discussions will be held in collaboration with Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) every day at the vibrant Amphitheatre venue with eminent personalities of the film industry.
  3. A crash course on Animation and VFX pipeline has been organized for registered participants.

Doc Film Bazaar:

  1. DOC Film Bazaar is being organized for the first time, to help boost the film production by providing a platform to filmmakers to find buyers, sponsors and collaborators for their projects.
  2. Close to 200 projects have been received from 10 countries in 27 languages.
  3. 3 curated verticals will be organized in the Doc Film Bazaar – ‘Co-production Market’ (16 projects), ‘Work-in-progress (WIP) Lab’ (6 projects) and ‘Viewing Room’ (106 projects).
  4. Besides these opportunities for selected projects, there will also be an ‘Open Buyer-Seller Meet’ which will help filmmakers collaborate with buyers and corporates in the realm of production, syndication, acquisition, distribution and sales.
  5. A dedicated session to explore the symbiotic relationship between documentary filmmaking and corporate branding. With industry leaders from various industry verticals, like FICCI, will explore the CSR funding of documentaries as powerful tools for brand enhancement and as a catalyst for positive societal impact.

Dedicated Portal & Mobile App for MIFF

  1. An interactive website of MIFF has been developed providing engaging details about the films, events and activities planned at the festival www.miff.in
  2. A dedicated mobile app has been developed for facilitating participation of delegates in various activities such as prior booking of film screenings, attending masterclasses, open forums, etc. It will also help the festival obtain valuable feedback from the delegates.

Delegate Registrations

  1. The Delegate Registrations are simple but mandatory for attending the festival through the website or the QR code provided in promotional material of MIFF.
  2. The Delegate Registration are also being provided through Book My Show.
  3. There are no extra charges for attending any number of film screenings or masterclasses or Doc film Bazaar.
  4. Delegate registration Fees-
    1. Mumbai – Rs 500 for attending the entire festival
    2. Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata & Pune – Free
    3. Student & Press – Free
    4. All Delegate registrations are ‘FREE’ fort the next 3 days.

Partnerships

  1. This year for the very first time, MIFF has received corporate collaborations from more than 20 brands in the festival. The brands have collaborated with the festival at various levels – from sponsoring various aspects of the festival to bringing in expertise to strengthen the festival.

Background

MIFF is the oldest and largest film festival for non-feature films (Documentary, Short Fiction & Animation) in South Asia and a premier international event of the documentary film world, since it started in 1990. It is a biennial event organized once in 2 years.

MIFF provides a platform for documentary filmmakers from all over world to meet, exchange ideas, explore the possibilities of co-productions and marketing of documentary, short and animation films and also broaden the vision of filmmakers’ vis-a-vis world cinema. The festival will provide a platform for more conversations and discussions on the documentary, animation and short films front; aimed at fostering artistic expression and proving to be a creative catalyst to the filmmakers and attendees alike.

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Incentive for foreign film production will be increased to 40 % of the expenses

 Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur said that India will increase the incentive for foreign film production in the country to 40 % of the expenses incurred with an increased cap limit of Rs.30 crore (exceeding 3.5 million US Dollars). Earlier, the per project cap for the incentives only Rs 2.5 Crore. An additional 5% percent bonus for Significant Indian Content (SIC), in his inaugural address at the 54th International Film Festival of India at Panaji, Goa today. 

Shri Thakur said that there was a need for a higher incentive to attract medium and big budget international projects to the country considering India’s size and vast potential. “ This paradigm shift in incentivizing film production serves as a testament to India’s commitment and support for artistic expression and reinforces our position as a preferred destination for cinematic endeavors”, he added. 

Further, in a glorious tribute to the legendary actress Madhuri Dixit, the 54th International Film Festival of India honoured her with ‘Special Recognition for Contribution to Bharatiya Cinema’ Award. “An icon across the ages, Madhuri Dixit has graced our screens with unparalleled talent for four incredible decades,” posted the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur on X. 

The Union Minister also announced a recruitment drive for the young minds who were selected in the ’75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow,’ opening up doors to limitless opportunities for their blossoming talents and career trajectories. The ’75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow,’ now in its 3rd edition, was born in 2021 from the Prime Minister’s vision to provide the youth with a platform to showcase their creative expression through the medium of cinema. “This year, out of nearly 600 entries across 10 categories, 75 young filmmakers have been handpicked from 19 states, including remote areas like Bishnupur, Jagatsinghpur, and Sadarpur”, the Minister added.

The Minister also announced a new category of awards – Best Web Series (OTT) Category – being introduced in this edition of IFFI. Highlighting the new components in the festival, Shri Anurag Thakur said that IFFI will acknowledge and honour the transformative role of original content creators in India, celebrating their contributions to employment and innovation. The Minister emphasized that, “for the first time, IFFI has augmented the scope of Film Bazaar by introducing a well-curated ‘VFX & Tech Pavilion’ to showcase the latest innovations from the cinema world, and a documentary section to its co-production market to support non-fiction storytelling.” 

Confirming India’s commitment to the cause of women empowerment, Shri Thakur said that this year’s IFFI will feature films from 40 remarkable women filmmakers. “Their talent, creativity and unique perspectives promise to make the festival a celebration of diverse voices and narratives”, he highlighted. 

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, has consistently stressed the creation of an inclusive and accessible India through the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’ Adding another dimension to the PM’s vision, the Minister emphasized that IFFI is upholding ‘Sabka Manoranjan’ i.e ‘Entertainment for all’ by making inclusivity a guiding principle. “All venues for this year’s festival will be equipped with facilities catering to the differently abled. There will be four additional special screenings for visually and hearing impaired delegates with embedded audio descriptions and sign language provisions”, he added.

The Minister also touched upon several measures taken by Government of India in the recent past to augment the Media & Entertainment Sector in India. “Recently, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023, received approval from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This legislation not only broadens the legal framework, shifting its focus beyond censorship to encompass copyright protection but also introduces rigorous measures against piracy”, he emphasized.

Underlining the significant role of Cinema as a uniting force, Shri Thakur said, “I strongly believe that, throughout its history, Cinema has captured and chiseled ideas, imagination and innovation such that it forms the driving force for peace, progress and prosperity in a world which is increasingly distressed with division.” 

Linking India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 Mission to the scientific possibilities offered by visionary works of art, the Minister said, “in 1902, long before space organizations were even conceived or conceptualized, a remarkable visionary work of art and a French Film by Georges Méliès, A Trip to the Moon spread the seeds of scientific possibility and progress in people’s minds.” The Minister said, “the power of cinema is incredible and it is fascinating how these ideas shape our world.”

Shri Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated Hollywood Actor/Producer Michael Douglas for having been conferred with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023. He also extended heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed Jury of the International Competition, the Indian Panorama, the Best Web Series (OTT), and the 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow. 

Concluding his remarks, the Minister said that his vision for IFFI is not limited to one event, but what IFFI should be when India celebrates its 100th year of Independence once we transition from Amrit Mahotsav to Amrit Kaal. 

 


How To Get A Netflix Free Account Easily

Do you feel like you are missing out on some amazing series and movies? Don’t worry; we have got just the thing for you. No more FOMO for you all. The sneaky tricks I am going to tell you will help you get a Netflix account for FREE!! All of these tricks are a hundred percent genuine and will get you the results you want. So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive in. 

Use The Netflix Trial Offer 

This one is pretty basic and is very well known already, and this is an excellent way to enjoy your favorite Netflix films and shows at no cost at all. As you might already be familiar with it, Netflix offers its users a free one-month trial time period, so why not dwell on the offer and use it to its fullest. 

This offer stays valid for a month only, although Netflix does send a follow-up subscription trial for another month at times. If you are lucky enough, it sends you one as soon as your previous one gets expired, or it can take a few months to send one across. Honestly, it’s very easy to use. Now there are very few steps that you have to follow to avail this thing. 

 

Download the app on your smartphone/ laptop. Then you will see a button there which says “join free for a month” simply click it. This will lead to the subscription page, which will show you all the plans available. Choose the premium plan on the chart and just continue. Now you just need to register yourself, sign up, and click continue. In the next step, they will ask you for your credit card details. 

You don’t have to worry. You won’t have to pay anything. After that is done, you’ll simply have your account, and you’ll get your subscription for free now, voila enjoy. Do not forget to cancel your subscription after one month, or else the money will be deducted from your card. 

Netflix Gift Card

This is also one of the easiest and most efficient ways to avail a Netflix subscription at absolutely no cost at all. If someone gifts you one of these, you are good to go for a subscription. Although Netflix itself does not sell cards online, there are a few on amazon on Flipkart that can help you. It is pretty easy to use it once you have the card. 

The steps go like this:

Firstly you need to go to the official site of Netflix.

Go to the subscription plan page.

Select the gift card option.

Enter the 11 digit code on the back of the card.

You are then all set to use your Netflix card, see we helped you decide your birthday gift too. You are welcome. 

 Use The SBI Net Banking Trick 

** This trick is only for state bank of India users** 

The first step is to open the SBI site and then login.

Select the dashboard section and then go to the section of where it shoes cards, and then lastly go to the selection of cards and go to virtual cards > Virtual Cards.

Then you have to create a virtual card that has validity for only one single day.

Copy the details of your card.

Log in to your Netflix Account, Choose the Netflix Subscription Plan.

Click on pay after using the virtual card option. 

Done, congratulations. You now have a new Netflix account for free. 

 Use Flikover And Get Netflix At 100 Rs 

First, you have to visit the official website of flikover

Make a new account and register here.

And just pay ₹100 to the account using your card.

All set, now you have successfully got a Netflix Premium Account for just free.

You can enjoy this offer for a month now without any hesitation at all.

Use IRCTC I Mudra App

Firstly, you have to download the IRCTC IMUDRA APP from your play store.

Create an account and log yourself in

Complete your KYC (Know Your Customer) after that. 

You can use any official government id to do so.

Now, after that, you will see the option of Getting  A VISA Virtual Card. 

You have to click on it.

After that, you’ll get your VISA Card from IRCTC iMudra App.

Now you have to open your Netflix Account and then Go to the section where it shows you the premium membership plans.

And finally, use your IRCTC’s VISA Card to Get your own Netflix Free Subscription.

Conclusion

Without any second thought, Netflix is being used by everyone majorly. It is being preferred more than any cable also. People will just get a Netflix subscription other than that of a cable. This is fair also because Netflix has a lot of various genre shows and movies and for everyone from kids to the older people, so there Is nothing that can keep people away from it except its price, which we got the perfect solution for that is you can actually use netflix for free, you can thank us later! Go grab your favorite food to munch on. Let the show begin.