India Express is reporting that The award , the first of its kind to be handed out by the festival, will be presented on March 13th, as the festival commences. Additionally, Saura, who holds directing credits in over forty films, will have eight of his films screened throughout the festival.
In its tenth year of existence, The MAMI International Film Festival will screen over 100 films from 40 different countries. Accompanying the eight distinct sections of the festival, including a retrospective and homage to selected filmmakers, will be a new selection of short films about Mumbai.
The seventy-six year old Saura has received a number of accolades over his long career, including three Special Jury prizes at Cannes. He won a BAFTA award in 1985 for Carmen, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 1979 for Mama Cumple Cien Anos (Mama Turns 100). His latest film, Lo, Don Giovanni, about an 18th century musician who collaborated with Mozart, is currently in post-production.