Third Eye opens its festival doors for the 22nd time, on 09 January 2026

Third Eye opens its festival doors for the 22nd time, on 09 January 2026

A lot of film-buffs have felt that Mumbai should have been chosen as the permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Since 1976, only 3 such festivals were held here, as variations of IFFI, called Filmotsavs. During 1996-97, a group of film society members, film directors, actors and other personalities, who had their base in Mumbai, were rooting for IFFI to settle here. But the Central Government let it travel, as IFFI in New Delhi, and as Filmotsav, in other cities across India. Not to be outdone, this determined group decided to launch its own annual film festival in Mumbai. Two of the strongest voices that championed Mumbai’s cause were that of producer Kiran V. Shantaram, and film society activist and film journalist Sudhir Nandgaonkar.

A trust was formed, called the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), and the group succeeded in holding its first film festival in 1997. Though I was part of the group that championed the cause of Mumbai, unfortunately, I went to work abroad in 1996, and missed out on its launch. With Kiran as Trustee and the moving spirit, several other well-known names came on board, like Shyam Benegal and Amol Palekar. Nandgaonkar was appointed Director of the Festival, and festival was named the Mumbai Film Festival (MFF). However, it is still popularly referred to as MAMI. IFFI was permanently relocated to Goa in 2004. After several memorable film festivals, MAMI went through a bad patch in later years, and a new committee took over. Worse still, a new Board of Trustees was appointed, and this marked the exit of Kiran V. Shantaram, Nandgaonkar, Shyam Benegal, Amol Palekar, and all the founder-members of the festival.

For many years now, MFF is battling to survive. The last one was very badly organised, mainly due to the shortage of funds, and MAMI decided to skip it this year. But residents of Mumbai (Mumbaikars, as they are called) and Thane, the district just outside Mumbai’s borders, will still get to see a selection of the best Indian and international films in Mumbai, thanks to the Third Eye Asian Film Festival (TEAFF). Shantaram and Nandgaonkar started the Third Eye Asian Film Festival 22 years ago, and have managed to stay afloat, in the face of the more glamorous and high profile MFF. Sudhir remained the Director of the Festival all these years. Then, Sudhir passed away on January 1, 2023, even as the 20th edition was rolling on. He left a vacuum that could never be filled, but the show must go on. TEAFF found Dr. Santosh Pathare to step in as Festival Director and Sandip Manjrekar as Managing Director. Both had been part of TEAFF for many, many years, and were groomed and suited for the posts. And so, the show does go on.

Left to right: Sandip Manjrekar (Managing Director, Third Eye Asian Film Festival), Kshitij Patwardhan (Film Director), Kiran V. Shantaram (Chairman, Third Eye Asian Film Festival), Dr. Santosh Pathare (Festival Director), Shrikant Bojewar (Trustee, Third Eye Asian Film Festival) and Pranav Ashar (Chairman Enlighten Film Society)

This year, and for future years, the dates for the festival, have been decided: 09 January to 15 January. To announce the dates and programme, the festival organisers held a press conference at Rajkamal Studios, Parel, Mumbai. Once the epicentre of shootings and dubbings, where my student film was edited and where I dubbed for many Hindi films, in the 70s and 80s, the studio is now defunct, but the heritage has been well preserved by the legendary V. Shantaram’s son, Kiran. Shantaram produced a record 92 films in his lifetime, and directed 55 of them. He started his career as an actor in silent films, in Kolhapur, then went out to carve a name for himself as one of India’s greatest talkie film-makers. From Kolhapur, he moved to Pune, and, after Pune, he settled in Bombay, where he established his banner, Rajkamal Kalamandir, and his studio, Rajkamal Studios.

The seven-day festival, organised in collaboration with the Cultural Affairs Department of the Government of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation, and the National Film Developed Corporation (NFDC), will feature a selection of 56 films, including both Asian and Indian. The selected 56 films will be screened at the Mini Theatre of the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, in Prabhadevi, central Mumbai, and at the Cinépolis cinema in LakeShore Mall, Thane. The festival will open with the screening of the Indonesian film, On Your Lap (Pangku), which won the FIPRESCI Jury Award at the Busan Film Festival.

"This year, screening the timeless masterpieces of my father, Dr. V. Shantaram, on his 125th birth anniversary, is a moment of special joy for us," said Kiran V. Shantaram, President, Asian Film Foundation. Organised by the Asian Film Foundation, since 2002, with the aim of bringing internationally acclaimed films to audiences in Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra, this festival has been held in Mumbai and Thane, simultaneously. "This year, we will offer audiences a diverse and enriching cinematic experience. The special focus on Kyrgyzstan, (a small Asian country that makes wonderful films) competitions for Marathi and Indian films, and screenings of internationally award-winning films will make this festival a celebration for cinema lovers," said Dr. Santosh Pathare.

Alongside Asian films, the festival's highlights include the Indian Film Competition and the Marathi Film Competition sections. The Marathi Film Competition section will feature eleven Marathi films: April May 99, Sangala, Gaman, Giran, Gondhal, Kimidin, Nirjali, Prism, Sabar Bond, Sohla, and Uttar. "I am delighted that my film Uttar will be screened at the Third Eye Asian Film Festival. Being part of the Marathi Film Competition section and being showcased alongside international-calibre films is an important opportunity for Marathi cinema. Such platforms encourage new filmmakers," said Kshitij Patwardhan, Director of Uttar.

The Indian Film Competition section will showcase twelve films in Assamese, Kannada, Manipuri, Malayalam, Bengali, and Nepali languages. The Asian Spectrum section will feature films from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Iran, the Philippines, and Thailand. Renowned director Padma Bhushan Sai Paranjpye will be honored with the 'Asian Film Culture Award,' while director Uma Da Cunha will be presented with the 'Satyajit Ray Memorial Award.' In memory of the late Sudhir Nandgaonkar, this year's special award for film-writing will be conferred upon film scholar and curator, Meenakshi Shedde.

Additionally, to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of filmmaker Dr. V. Shantaram, his iconic films—Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, Kunku, and Navrang—will be screened. Along with film screenings, the festival will feature open forums with esteemed jury members, as well as masterclasses with directors and technicians. TEAFF is supported by Enlighten Film Society.

Noting the large number of debutant directors having their films screened at TEAFF, on a suggestion form this writer, the organisers agreed to consider instituting a Best Debut Director award as well.

Delegate registration for the festival is now open on the website: https://www.thirdeyeasianfilmfestival.com/.

Registration fees are Rs. 1,000 for the general public and Rs. 750 for professionals and students, payable online. From January 1, senior citizens and other film enthusiasts who are not comfortable with the Internet, can fill-in a simple form, and register at the respective venues.