Young and aspiring filmmakers of Mumbai under the age of 25 proved their passion for cinema with a touch of creativity in a special short film competition section called "Dimensions Mumbai". Jury member and filmmaker Shoojit Sircar tagged it "inspiring".
Conceived by Jaya Bachchan, "Dimensions Mumbai" is an initiative to spot the up-and-coming talents in the city. This year 20 films were featured in the section with each one unique, yet similar in its way of paying tribute to the city.
Some of the films of this section include "Seat Down", "Share", "Monsoon Drive", "Raah" and "To You Both".
Sircar, who led the jury, said Mumbai came alive on screen through the films.
"It's great to see young filmmakers making such inspiring short films. I thought it was like seeing different aspects of the city come alive on screen. From the trains to vada pav to the crowds, most of these films gave us a slice of life in Mumbai," Sircar told IANS.
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Other members of the jury include Tisca Chopra, Rajkumar Yadav, Ravi Jadhav and Niranjan Iyengar.
For actor Rajkumar, who is on a jury for the first time, it's the next generation of filmmakers at work.
"We have seen some really fantastic films and I think they're the future filmmakers. I think platforms like these encourage young filmmakers to not give up their passion for cinema. Since they are being awarded for their work, I think it's the battle of the best minds," Rajkumar told IANS.
"Some of the films really stunned me and I kept wondering if they were really made by first-time filmmakers," he added.
Screenwriter-lyricist Niranjan Iyengar wishes that aspiring filmmakers make the best use of such platforms.
"I believe platforms like these help one master his or her craft. Therefore, it's best if one makes the best use of it. They should look forward to several other opportunities like these," he said.
The winning film of this competition will be awarded a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh.
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