The festival will showcase 80 films and 50 short films from Asian countries. Plaza in Dadar at central Mumbai, Chavan centre at Nariman Point in south Mumbai and Fame Adlabs in suburban Andheri will be the main venues for the screenings, Festival director Sudhir Nandgaonkar told PTI.
'Son of Babylon', an Iraqi film which won the Best Movie Award at the Karlovyvary International Film Festival in July this year will open the festival here, he added. He said renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal will be felicitated this year with the Asian Film Culture award. The award honours the achievements of Asian directors, and is given each year to the master of Asian cinema.
Six films by Mrinal Sen would be screened this year under the Asian Masters section. Nandgaonkar said during the last 20 years, Asian cinema has gained immense popularity by winning top awards at world's important film festivals.
He said to recognise the talent and films made by Asian directors, the festival has organised 'director's first or second film' competition. The director must have debuted with the film not before one year of the festival.
The competition would be adjudged by an international jury. The festival's closing film will be Marathi film 'Mee Sindhutai Sapkal', based on a true story of a village woman's journey to overcome the adversities of life through her good deeds.