14th Mumbai Film Festival

The 14th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival kick-started with the screening of Silver Linings Playbook, starring Anupam Kher, in the presence of several Bollywood celebrities including Sridevi, Jaya Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Ashutosh Gowariker.

At the inaugural ceremony Thursday, Sridevi, Jaya and filmmakers Ashutosh Gowariker, Ramesh Sippy, along with Shyam Benegal, chairman of organising body Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), lit the ceremonial lamp.

Also present on the occasion were actress Kirron Kher with husband Anupam, Manisha Koirala, actor Rahul Bose, Ranvir Shorey, Shahana Goswami, director R Balki with wife and filmmaker Gauri Shinde, Pritish Nandy, Shahana Goswami, Rohit Roy and Bhavana Balsaver.

The highlight of the programme was Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who was honoured with the lifetime achievement award by Tina Ambani, wife of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group head Anil Ambani.

Yimou is best known for films like To Live, 'House of Flying Daggers, Curse of The Golden Flower and Raise the Red Lantern among others.

"I have always believed that cinema is a bridge between cultures. I thank MAMI for appreciating my efforts and acknowledging my contribution towards cinema", Yimou said. Brought in with great pomp and aplomb, the first day of the 14th Mumbai Film Festival set pace for the week-long cinematic extravaganza that promises to feature the finest works of cinematic genius from a lineup of over 200 films.

The festival will go on till October 25 at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) & Inox, Nariman Point, Liberty Cinemas, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Andheri and Cinemax Sion as the satellite venues.