Mumbai film fest kick-starts with star power

The 14th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival kick-started here Thursday, with Bollywood celebrities like Jaya Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Anupam Kher and Sridevi in attendance for the star-studded opening ceremony. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou was given the international lifetime achievement award here.

Actress Sridevi, Jaya and filmmakers Ashutosh Gowariker and Ramesh Sippy, along with Shyam Benegal, chairman of organising body Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), lit the ceremonial lamp for the eight-day cine extravaganza.

Other celebrities present at the opening included veteran actress Kirron Kher, actors Rahul Bose, Ranvir Shorey, Rohit Roy, Bhavana Balsaver and her mother Shubha Khote.

Presented by Reliance Entertainment, this year, the fest has a line-up of over 230 movies from around the world with a mix of classic and contemporary cinema with special event segments dedicated to French, Italian, Afghan and Indian cinema.

In the presence of filmmakers from across the world, some of which are also a part of the jury, acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou was presented the international lifetime achievement award by Tina Ambani, wife of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group head Anil Ambani.

Yimou got a standing ovation from the audience. In his acceptance speech, he said: "This lifetime achievement award is just the beginning."

One of China's most prominent directors, Yimou has helmed films like "To Live", "House of Flying Daggers", "Hero", "Curse of The Golden Flower" and "Raise the Red Lantern".

He has earlier been conferred notable international accolades at events like Berlin, Venice and Cannes film festivals. Yimou also directed the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

Critically-acclaimed Hollywood comedy-drama "Silver Linings Playbook", starring Indian actor Anupam Kher, opened the festival.

The gala, ending Oct 25, will also host a special event segment to mark the centenary year of Indian cinema by screening handpicked silent films accompanied by live orchestra.

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