Mumbai, 1 November 2023
Audiences had the opportunity to attend an insightful discussion about the role and importance of women creators at Jio MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) Mumbai Film Festival 2023. Powered by M.A.C. Cosmetics, the ‘Women Creators of India’ panel discussion brought together actors Maanvi Gagroo (Half Love Half Arranged, Four More Shots Please!), Rasika Dugal (Manto, Delhi Crime), actor and director Shriya Pilgaonkar (Ek Kulti Ek, Mirzapur), and Sayani Gupta (Article 15, Four More Shots Please!), for a conversation moderated by Rohini Ramnathan.
The panel emphasised the importance of women taking up leadership positions in the industry and pushing for representation. Women creators, from actors to directors and from writers to DOPs and producers, are rapidly bringing about a transformation in the industry and impacting storytelling in the process.
At the panel, each of the participants discussed the process of working on their characters, understanding their personalities, diving deep into the script, and the overall acting process. They spoke about the importance of being ambitious and assertive about the idea that one believes in and why having the courage to say no is critical. The panel also spoke about the pressure of looking a certain way as a woman, the expectations placed on actors, and the importance of being authentic in that atmosphere.
Commenting on the panel, Karen Thompson, Brand Manager, M.A.C. Cosmetics India, said, “At M.A.C. Cosmetics, we believe in supporting people to be their true authentic selves. We proudly support the Women Creators panel at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, highlighting strong female characters and actors who dare to be different. We’re excited to back women who are forging their own paths.”
Adding to this, Abhishek Kumar, Head of Marketing, PR, and Partnerships at Jio MAMI , said, “Our collaboration with M.A.C. Cosmetics is very special to us. As an organisation, we are led by some of the best women leaders; representation of all kinds is in our DNA. Putting a focus on women creators and how that impacts cinema and other formats of content is something that we resonate with, and we have seen a definite trend in that direction. M.A.C. Cosmetics is a progressive brand with inclusivity at its core. We’re excited about this partnership with M.A.C. Cosmetics.”
The theatre buzzed with energy and vitality as the deep and important discussion carried on, inspiring audiences and encouraging people to celebrate the complex and nuanced relationship women share with cinema.
About Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival:
Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), has brought the best of contemporary world cinema and talent to the city of Mumbai since 1997. With its new expanded vision to spotlight South Asian and South Asian diaspora filmmakers, Jio MAMI becomes the Hub for South Asia, discovering and connecting emerging talent to the worldwide festival ecosystem.
Along with celebrating cinematic excellence and bringing joy to our audiences, we aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas and provide easy access to information related to filmmaking, funding, film distribution, business opportunities, and strategic marketing support for films and filmmakers. The festival also conducts a robust Year Round Programme that acts as a hub for creators and cinephiles through screenings, networking opportunities, access to labs and workshops for skill development, masterclasses, and, very importantly, creating a community of cinema lovers.
More on Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival:
Website: www.mumbaifilmfestival.com
IG, FB & YT: @mumbaifilmfestival I Twitter: @MumbaiFilmFest
