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Writer, director, and actor Konkona Sen Sharma emphasizes the importance of courage in filmmaking, irrespective of technological advancements. According to Sen Sharma, "With iPhone, there’s so much power contained in such a compact package that you can bypass the conventions of mainstream filmmaking." The acclaimed filmmaker is joined by notable Indian cinema figures like Vikramaditya Motwane, Lijo Jose Pellissery, and Vetri Maaran in mentoring four emerging talents, chosen by the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) for the 2025 MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone program.
Now in its second year, the initiative aims to equip MAMI alumni with advanced tools like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and MacBook Pro with M4 Max, encouraging them to innovate in their creative projects. Last year's cohort saw notable success, with two films winning 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards India accolades. "Shooting on iPhone allows for complete personal expression," asserts Maaran, highlighting the democratization of filmmaking in the present era.
The selected filmmakers for this year, Amrita Bagchi, Rohin Raveendran Nair, Chanakya Vyas, and Shalini Vijayakumar, are exploring diverse cinematic themes through their work. MAMI festival director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur highlights the unique regional narratives these filmmakers bring to life. Pellissery notes, "Shooting on iPhone, they are pushing their own limits with fantastic results."
Bagchi, inspired by her diverse artistic background and the history of Kolkata, has created the psychological thriller "Tinctoria," involving the colonial-era indigo revolt. With the help of iPhone 16 Pro Max, Bagchi explores unconventional production methods, stating, "It was a very ambitious production, but with iPhone 16 Pro Max, I can constantly create and improvise."
Nair, drawing influence from Kerala's cinema and his roots in Alleppey, directs a love story in "Kovarty," utilizing the iPhone's versatility to capture unique perspectives. "Using iPhone’s small form factor, I could place the camera inside the typewriter and capture its POV," Nair reveals.
In Mumbai, Vyas explores themes of loss and coming-of-age in "Mangya." The iPhone's abilities enable Vyas to creatively adapt to challenging shooting conditions, saying, "With Action mode, I could even shoot multiple takes. The stabilization is just so impressive."
Lastly, Vijayakumar merges her family's storytelling heritage into "Seeing Red," a comedic horror film capturing the essence of Tamil households. By employing creative techniques with iPhone, she illustrates complex narratives within compact frames.
Vikramaditya Motwane views these filmmakers as torchbearers of a visionary legacy, akin to Orson Welles and Satyajit Ray. "These filmmakers can be the pioneers who take the camera to places we’ve never seen before," he states.
The emerging directors' short films are available for viewing on the MAMI YouTube channel.