For the first time in its nearly three-decade-long history, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will not be held in 2025. The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), which organises the annual celebration of Indian and international cinema, has announced a complete revamp of the festival. The next edition is now expected to return in 2026 with a renewed vision, a new team, and a stronger focus on independent and regional filmmaking.
In a statement released earlier this week, Festival Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur stressed that the festival needed time to evolve to remain relevant to rapidly changing cinematic landscapes. "We are in the process of revamping the festival with a dynamic vision and a new team to ensure that it returns as a premier platform for world-class cinema," he said. “We deeply appreciate the continued support and understanding of the film community during this process.”
The MAMI festival, launched in 1997, has long been considered India’s premier film festival. Taking place in the heart of the nation’s film capital, it has served as a crucial stage for showcasing critically acclaimed international cinema and providing a launchpad for emerging Indian filmmakers. Over the years, the festival has hosted top directors, actors, and film buffs from across the globe, growing steadily in reputation and scale.
But financial strain and organisational shifts have loomed large in recent years. The festival lost its long-time title sponsor, Jio, in 2023. That was followed by the stepping down of former Festival Director Anupama Chopra. Dungarpur, who took over thereafter, faced the difficult task of running the 2024 edition with limited resources. That year’s festival, though conducted, was scaled back significantly in terms of screenings and venue offerings, prompting concerns about its future.
The announcement of the 2025 cancellation has sparked an emotional response across India’s creative community. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared his dismay on social media, calling it “a cruel irony” that a city celebrated for being the country's financial and cinematic powerhouse couldn't sustain its global film festival. Many echoed his sentiment, highlighting a growing lack of institutional support for cultural infrastructure in India, particularly for non-commercial and artistic cinema.
Despite the setback, MAMI’s leadership remains committed to its long-term vision. Organizers say the 2026 edition will introduce a refreshed format that better reflects the evolving nature of cinema capturing not just films on screen, but storytelling across platforms and languages.
Founding members of the festival and past supporters, including names like Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Priyanka Chopra, have played key roles over the years in keeping the festival relevant and funded. As MAMI prepares for its next chapter, there is speculation about potential new sponsors, partnerships, and an expanded programming approach.
Until 2026, Mumbai’s cinephiles will miss one of the few events that brought global cinema to the city in a meaningful way. But with a committed team and a fresh vision, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival could return stronger, adapting to the new demands of filmmakers and audiences alike.
The hope is that this pause marks not the end, but a powerful new beginning, one that repositions Mumbai not just as Bollywood’s home, but as an international hub for groundbreaking cinema.
