The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival has been an important event in India’s film world for almost 30 years. Every year, it brings together a collection of independent films, regional cinema and more!
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The cancellation of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2025 has left many in the film world disappointed, and filmmaker Hansal Mehta is one of them. The director, known for films like ‘Aligarh’ and ‘Scam 1992’, called the situation “a cruel irony.”
In a heartfelt post on social media, Mehta expressed his sadness. He pointed out how Mumbai, known as India’s cinema capital, could not save its own film festival.
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It’s a cruel irony that Mumbai draped in the glitz of being India’s financial and cinematic capital cannot keep alive a film festival of its own.
Abandoned by the self-appointed gatekeepers of cinema who chased shinier stages and safer bets it was left in the hands of a few… https://t.co/Y2BPYoEPUrAdvertisement
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) July 21, 2025
According to him, the people who claim to protect cinema walked away when the festival needed them most.
Mehta wrote, “It’s a cruel irony that Mumbai draped in the glitz of being India’s financial and cinematic capital cannot keep alive a film festival of its own. Abandoned by the self-appointed gatekeepers of cinema who chased shinier stages and safer bets it was left in the hands of a few passionate believers to run on pure faith.”
He also mentioned that the festival’s end came quietly, without any big farewell or public anger. “No ceremony. No outrage. Just a slow, silent forgetting. What should have been a cultural cornerstone has been reduced to a footnote – another casualty of apathy dressed as progress,” Mehta added.
For him, MAMI should have been a major part of Mumbai’s culture, but instead, it has become just another thing that people will soon forget.
The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival has been an important event in India’s film world for almost 30 years. Every year, it brings together a collection of independent films, regional cinema, and international movies, giving a platform to voices that often don’t get attention in mainstream Bollywood.
On Monday, the festival’s organisers posted an official statement on social media announcing the cancellation of the 2025 edition. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the festival’s director, shared the message.
He explained that the decision came out because the festival is going through major changes. “We are revamping the festival with a new vision and a new team to make sure it comes back stronger. Our goal is to make MAMI a top platform for independent, regional, and classic films from India and around the world,” the statement said.
Dungarpur also assured fans and filmmakers that the festival is not ending forever. The organisers are planning to bring it back in 2026 with a fresh format and new dates.
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