Finally, 16th Mumbai film fest set to roll from Oct 14

The much-awaited 16th edition of Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), which was hit by a fund crunch, is set to roll out from Oct 14 here. It will showcase over 185 films from more than 65 countries.

"I have to pinch myself to believe that it's really happening. 15 days back we were about to set out a release that it's not happening. Later many people came forward to support it," a visibly emotional MFF director Srinivasan Narayanan told reporters referring to the financial problems that the fest faced.

This year the future was in trouble due to the lack of fund, but finally things have been sorted and now it has been announced that $200,000 will be awarded as cash prizes to the winners.

Organised by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), the eight-day fest will be held at PVR Cinemas, which will be the main venue, while Liberty Cinemas at Marine Lines will be used as the satellite venue.

Various dignitaries from the Indian entertainment industry attended the press conference, including trustees of MAMI Kiran Rao, Farhan Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, and Vikramaditya Motwane.

This year's line up include Xavier Dolans' "Mommy", Mike Leighs' "Mr Turner", Ken Loachs' "Jimmy Hall", "Boyhood" by Richard Linklater, Dardenn brothers' "Two Days One Night", Kim Ki Duks' "One on One", Yoji Yamadas' "The Little House", Jean Luc Godards' "Goodbye to Language" and "Party Girl" by Marie Amachoukeli Barsacq.

Aslo, the fest will put spotlight on Arab films and 25 movies will be presented from the region.

A series of restored films will also be screened and special master classes by internationally acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Doyle and director writer Mahamat Saleh Haroun will be organised.