Bombay HC dismisses filmmakers' plea challenging exclusion of their movies from MIFF

Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn petition of filmmakers Anand Patwardhan and Pankajrishi Kumar, challenging decision to exclude ir movies from screening at Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF).

After reviewing submission, HC was satisfied with claim that MIFF has selected all films for screening without any bias, and agreed that  selection process did t violate any set parameters.

Dismissed as withdrawn means court would have dismissed petition had petitioner t agreed to withdraw it.

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filmmakers had approached Bombay HC with ir plea against MIFF for rejecting ir documentaries for screening at film festival, alleging that all movies, that were "even slightly critical of Central government, were rejected by MIFF's selection committee."

On Friday,  Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh had submitted all records of selection process followed by MIFF selection committee on directions of High Court.

filmmakers had alleged that movies were selected without following proper procedure and that ir movies were rejected on basis of its topics.

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About rejected films

selection committee of film festival had rejected Patwardhan's 'Vivek/Reason' and Pankajrishi Kumar's 'Janani's Juliet' and 'Two Flags' from being screened at ceremony, which begins on January 28.

movie 'Vivek/Reason' covers historic events of over a period of 100 years from time of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination to murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, and Gauri Lankesh.

Pankajrishi Kumar's movies, on or hand, are based on issues of caste and -based discrimination and hour killing.

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About MIFF

 Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF) is a festival organized by  Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

festival aims to provide a platform for documentary and short filmmakers from all over world to meet, exchange ideas and explore possibilities of co-production and marketing of documentary, short and animation films.  festival is open to public, although prior registration as a delegate is required. 

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(With inputs from ANI)

(Im credits: PTI)