11th MAMI MFF indeed had a better selection of International and Indian films but alas, the management of the festival was no better than the earlier 10 editions of MAMI. Since MAMI is now fully controlled and managed by the Reliance Big Entertainment (albeit thru’ a board of trustees), a professional and fair conduct was expected. Press / Media was neglected by denying them the invites for two important events viz; OPENING AND CLOSING of the festival. I am not talking about grandiose party invitations but at least an entry in the auditorium showing opening and closing function followed by films.
Forget about covering the vital parts of Jury announcements for award winning films, conferment of awards, celebrity felicitations etc. which is a vital part of the festival; but a simple committed privilege to watch the closing film was denied. For inaugural function at least there was a solace to watch the formal inauguration and felicitations in ramaining 3 screens of the venue (Fun Cinemas) thru’ a looping system followed by the opening film “The Informant” by the uninvited press and delegates. But this was not the case with the closing function or the film inspite of the initial commitment.
LAST MOMENT ARBIRARY/AUTOCRATIC ACTS BY FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT WITH LACK OF COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS CULMINATING IN DISAPPOINTMENTS AND CHAOS BOTH FOR DELEGATES AND THE PRESS.
At 5.45 (6 p.m was the scheduled time for closing function) a sudden announcement was made that a brief closing function will be held at screen 3 and thereafter screens 3 and 4 will show the closing film “THE DUST OF TIME”. Only those press persons or delegates who are holding a special entry card will be allowed to watch this and not all registered entrants. The reason announced was, the director of the film did not wish the film to be looped in all screens. This was shocking. But the delegates who paid for the registration also felt cheated as only an invitation to actual opening or closing function was not a part of contract but watching the films in all four screens thru’ looping was guaranteed.
After this there was a stampede like situation and people rushed out from screen 1-2. Those who had the special entry card dashed off to the fourth floor screens 3 -4; and those who did not have this, ran helter skelter to Contact the help desks for delegates and the press. No responsible officer was there to answer but those found manning, expressed their inability to give any info as to where such cards are available; what is the criteria or requirement to get or to whom these were issued and by whom? Delegates already holding such cards when asked where did they get, proudly said “Managed / Grabbed”.
When I saw a senior press (freelance) friend holding 3-4 such entry cards, I asked him how did he get so many, he said “Fought for them”. He was seen handing these to other female friends. In such a confused situation, the delegates and press persons having their own principles not to BEG for such favors, preferred to leave the venue without further waste of time. A few who wanted to watch the good repeat movies in screens 1-2 (“Made in Pakistan” and “Eden is West”) remained seated. Myself was in this lot. I also spotted two familiar faces amongst those who were seated; one a well known author and a sr. film journo/editor and other the better half of a top TV star. When asked how come they have not gone to watch the acclaimed closing film, the reply was a brief “No invite”
SHABBASH “Mumbai Mirror”
Amongst so many English newspapers in Mumbai, I think only “Mumbai Mirror” had the guts and courage to write about this goof up and anger of MAMI registrants next morning with a story captioned “MAMI comes to a close amidst chaos”. Thru’ this piece, we came to know that a large audience who were denied entry in the screens 3 and 4 for want on spl. Entry cards, had agitated before the director of the festival Mr. S Narayan; who then allowed entry to all who were waiting and both the auditoriums thus bursted with seams with overflowing people. The reason quoted by him for such a last minute decision was that technically it was not feasible to screen the film in all screens thru’ looping. This reason was at variance from what was earlier announced in the screens 1 and 2. You believe what U like. But whatever the reason, why the fact was kept under wraps and was told to the audience only at the last moment?
The director S Narayan had also informed that at the Fun venue, closing function will be a short formality but other closing function requisites like conferment of awards/ felicitations, announcement of award winning films and citation will all be done at an exclusive party at Marriot with invited VIPs and film celebrities. In other words it will be strictly a private affair. When asked, if the press/media will get invites to cover that function, he said
“I can not say about that as it is decided by a separate management team”. True, the same was the answer from all PR reps from Big Pictures, the hosts for Media.
JURY DECISION ON AWARD WINNING FILMS AND CONFERMENT OF AWARDS including audience choice award is an integral part of closing function of all International festivals and invariably done in presence of those very delegates or audience who have been a part of festival to get their tumultuous applause with reasoning given in citations for the choice. That adds sanctity, transparency and propriety to the process. Tragedy of MAMI is that the very audience who were the part of actual watching of such films were no where in the picture when the jury selections were announced. The applause will no doubt come from those VIP/ Film celebrities who are present in the exclusive gathering but without having the knowledge of an awarded film. We, the audience and press registrant only came to know about these winners on the third day when a few news papers revealed the details if were invited, or culled out from the press releases sent by the PR team if UNINVITED.
Yours truly has also received such briefs from the PR team of Reliance Big Entertainment; but I FOR ONE ON PRINCIPLE GROUND and as a mark of PROTEST WILL NOT RE-PRODUCE THE PRESS RELEASE on this website. SORRY TO REFRIAN FROM DISHING OUT DETAILS OF AWARD WINNERS OF THE EXCLUSIVE CLOSING FUNCTION.
SUGGESTING MEASURES TO AVOID FEST FRUSTRATIONS AND LAPSES
Privately managed International fests without outside financial help do manage to tide over finances within budget in transparent ways. Since it is practically not possible to extend invitations of STARRED BASHES to all registered entrants/ delegates, they have devised way outs. For instance, Indian International Film Festival of Los Angeles have kept three classes of delegate cards with different price structure with adequate support from sponsor organizations. A delegate card for particular movie/s costs lowest. Cards ENTITLING ENTRY TO ALL FESTIVAL MOVIES costs little more. But a PRIVILEGED card allowing access to all events including bashes attracts highest price. Other alternative is to conduct all the events/including opening and closing functions/ films, awards etc. before festival tag holders in all screens thru’ looping as is done in the State Managed Official Festvals of the world (IFFI included); BUT RESTRICT THE ENTRY FOR BASHES. There no harm in that if done in explicit and transparent manner.
ENSURE “FIRST COME FIRST SERVE” SEATING STRICTLY
Another aspect of bad management was encouraging an unfair practice adopted by the audience to “reserve’ the seats by merely keeping a paper, water bottle or a bag. This is done as soon as a movie has ended and the next one may begin even 45 minutes later. But for films which are HYPED,this always happened. When one wants to occupy a seat, person sitting by side just says, some one is coming there. This resulted in denial of seats even to those who enter the auditorium 15-20 minutes in advance. It is s not possible for the elders to sit on the steps or on the floor to watch and they had to miss such films. It happened with me for the film “Bitter/Sweet”, the press conference of which was to follow just after the screening. I had to miss the press meet also since I could not see the film. To avoid such unethical grabbing of seats, let there be ushers to regulate and control this practice.
Another way will be to open the auditorium only 10 minutes before the movie time. Let people form an orderly Q outside and get entry. Such a practice is common in all festivals.
While I have criticised and deprecated the blemishes of the festival in this PART-I, my PART-II report will be full of appreciation and analysis of good films, which please do not miss.
Click here to read 11th MAMI - Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) - 2009 - Part-II
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