MIFF-2006... Mumbai International Film Festival is happening in Mumbai.

Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India, has contributed immensely for the promotion of documentaries, short and animation films, through its biennial edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF).

MIFF began way back in 1990 and is now entering into its 9th edition, scheduled between 3-9 February, 2006 in Mumbai.

MIFF is a unique festival amalgamating short films, documentary, animation and electronic films. For well over a decade, it has been playing a pivotal role in identifying and promoting newer vistas in this genre of cinema.

Its worldwide appeal and popularity are clearly evident with the upsurge in the number of participants, each edition. When the world is fragmented by narrow domestic quarrels, it is festivals like MIFF, which strive relentlessly to unite, unmindful of creed, race, language or even borders.

In every edition of MIFF, there has been an enormous response from filmmakers, which can be easily ascertained from the increase in the number of entries. Nearly 40 countries participate in every edition of this festival. Probably this is the only documentary film festival offering a whopping amount of Rs.27.50lakhs as the total prize money and around 500 films are screened during the festival.

Many internationally acclaimed filmmakers have served in the Jury in past editions of MIFF. During every edition of MIFF, a veteran documentary filmmaker is conferred the ‘Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award’ which carries a Trophy and Cash award of Rs.2.50lakhs.

MIFF has always been receptive to experimentation in form and content and recognizes the creative output of technological advancement. It is a bridge between different societies and ideas, serving as a platform to promote the spirit of competition and search for excellence.

MIFF is currently rated as one of the most important top five International events out of among 2500 such major and minor events held around the globe.

Rajendra Joshi