Netflix and Jio MAMI 21st Mumbai Film Festival with Star celebrate Women in Entertainment
“Our stories just don’t work without women”, says Netflix
Mumbai, October 19, 2019: Netflix and Jio MAMI 21st Mumbai Film Festival with Star today joined hands to celebrate the evolving role of women in Indian storytelling as part of MAMI’s Women in Film initiative.
Commenting on the success of women helping other women in film, and cheering the creative community in attendance, producer Guneet Monga shared what she was told by the poet, Meena Kandaswamy when she won the Oscar for ‘Period. End of Sentence’ – “When you shine, I shine.”
Srishti Arya, Director for International Original Film- Netflix India shared her views on Women in Entertainment and said, “At Netflix, diversity is the beating heart of our storytelling and inclusion is essential to programming for 158 million members around the world. As we deepen our investment in stories and storytellers from India, we are determined to bring to life more smart, vibrant and fully-realised female characters…who are funny, fierce and fantastically flawed.”
Speaking at the event, Monika Shergill- Director, International Originals, Netflix India said, “Stories have the ablity to shape our conversations and culture. As a brand that’s known for pure storytelling, we believe in women creators and their ability to craft stories of power and presence. We want to be a home to the best stories and bring these unique and inventive voices to life.”
Anupama Chopra, Festival Director, MAMI said, “Over the years, the Indian film industry has seen an incredible array of work created by women. Through Women in Film, we are proud to celebrate women creators and start a conversation on how we can empower more women and encourage them to give find their artistic voice.”
Smriti Kiran, Artistic Director, MAMI said, “An even playing field, a safe work environment, equal and fair treatment. Women in film is to keep the conversation around gender equality and inclusion going. It is also to celebrate the leaps that have been taken in the journey to achieve this.”
The event was attended by actors, writers, and directors including Shabana Azmi, Sonali Bendre, Swara Bhaskar, Sunita Gowariker, Sona Mohapatra, Shonali Bose, Guneet Monga, Sayani Gupta, Tisca Chopra, Tanuja Chandra, Sayani Gupta, Rima Das, Shruti Seth, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Vibha Chibber, Mithila Palkar, Sapna Bhavnani and Tahira Kashyap. The Women in Film initiative was a part of the Jio MAMI 21st Mumbai Film Festival with Star held from October 17-24, 2019.
Several upcoming Netflix films have female leads. Many of them are being led by women behind the camera including Ghost Stories (one story directed by Zoya Akhtar), Guilty (directed and written by Ruchi Narain), Yeh Ballet (directed by Sooni Taraporevala), Kaali Khuhi (produced by Anku Pande), and Mrs. Serial Killer (produced by Farah Khan). The company is also working with many first time female directors such as Terrie Samundra (for Kaali Khuhi) and Anvita Dutt (for Bulbul).
