MAMI’s ‘Filmed on iPhone’ returns with a nationwide call for filmmakers

‘MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone’ returns for its third edition with Sriram Raghavan, Dibakar Banerjee, Geetu Mohandas and Chaitanya Tamhane leading the mentorship programme

The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) has announced the third edition of MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone, a programme aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers across India. The initiative offers selected participants the opportunity to create short films using iPhones, along with access to mentorship and post-production support.

For this edition, MAMI will select four filmmakers through an open call, inviting entries from across the country. The chosen filmmakers will create short films ranging from 20 to 40 minutes in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Bengali, with Bengali being included for the first time. Each selected participant will be provided with an iPhone 17 Pro Max for filming and a MacBook Pro for editing, along with guidance from a panel of established filmmakers.

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The mentorship panel includes Sriram Raghavan, Dibakar Banerjee, Geetu Mohandas and Chaitanya Tamhane, who will work closely with the filmmakers across different stages of production, from development to post-production. The focus of the programme remains on encouraging new voices to experiment with storytelling while using accessible technology.

Applications for MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone are now open. Filmmakers can apply through the official MAMI website, with the submission deadline set for 4 January 2026 at 7 pm IST.

According to Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Festival Director at MAMI, the programme builds on the strong response received in previous editions and continues MAMI’s effort to support independent filmmakers by providing both technical resources and a platform to showcase their work. He noted that the inclusion of Bengali this year reflects the programme’s growing regional reach.

Speaking about the initiative, SriramRaghavansaid short films remain a powerful format and described the programme as an important opportunity for new filmmakers. Dibakar Banerjee called the initiative one of the most exciting mentorship roles he has been part of, pointing to the creative freedom offered by shooting on a mobile device.

Geetu Mohandas highlighted the importance of intent and imagination over equipment, adding that she looks forward to seeing how filmmakers discover their voices through the process. Chaitanya Tamhane said the programme reflects the spirit of independent filmmaking and expressed interest in the creative dialogue that emerges during the mentorship.

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The completed short films will premiere at a special screening organised by MAMI and will later be released on the organisation’s YouTube channel, making them accessible to a wider audience.

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