Shanghai Corporation Film Festival begins in Mumbai today

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

SCO Film Festival begins in Mumbai today

The Film Festival offers opportunities to film makers to collaborate and experience the best of world cinema: I&B Minister

Showcasing the diversity of films and styles of film making from SCO region is a major goal of the film festival: I&B Minister

“Indian movies are a rage across SCO countries and have played a great role in people-to-people connections “: I&B Minister

All our friends from this region get to be represented in this festival of storytelling, narrative-building, bringing hearts close to each other: MoS External Affairs and Culture

The very first edition of SCO Film Festival in India will screen around 58 films from 14 countries in both Competition and non-competition category

Posted On: 27 JAN 2023 8:52PM by PIB Mumbai

: Mumbai, January 27, 2023

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival began with a grand star-studded opening ceremony and a colourful cultural evening highlighting the diversity of India, at NCPA in Mumbai today. With popular film personalities of Indian cinema as well as SCO countries in attendance, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and Minister of State (External Affairs and Culture) Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi inaugurated the SCO Film Festival.

The Guest of Honour in the opening ceremony Ms. Hema Malini and other eminent film personalities like Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Hema Malini, Sajid Nadiadwala, Esha Gupta, Poonam Dhillon, Eli Avram, Hrishita Bhatt and Jacky Bhagnani were felicitated on the occasion.

The seven Jury Members of SCO Film Festival –China’s film director Ms. Ning Ying; Musician from Kazakhstan Mr. Dimash Kudaibergen; Filmmaker and Film Critic from Kyrgyzstan Ms. Gulbara Tolomushova; Russian Film Producer and Journalist Mr. Ivan Kudryavtsev; Film Producer, Actor and Author from Tajikistan Mr. Mehmedsaid Shohiyon; Uzbekistan’s actor Mr. Matyakub Sadullayevich Matchanov and Chairperson of the jury and acclaimed Indian film-maker Rahul Rawail were also felicitated.

While delivering the welcome address, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting said, “SCO Film Festival presents unique opportunities and incredible possibilities for film makers to network, pitch, collaborate and experience the best from the world of cinema

The dignitaries present on the occasion included MP (Mumbai North-East Constituency), Manoj Kotak, MP (Mumbai North Constituency) Gopal Shetty, Minister for Tourism, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Women & Child Development, Government of Maharashtra Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Additional Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Neerja Shekhar and Festival Director and MD, NFDC Shri Prithul Kumar amongst others. 

The very first edition of SCO Film Festival in India will screen around 58 films from 14 countries in both Competition and non-competition category. The festival opened with the screening of Tamil film “Appatha”, directed by Shri Priyadarshan and starring Smt. Urvashi.  At the screening of the film, Honorable Minister of Information & Broadcasting also felicitated both Director Priyadarshan and Urvashi, the lead actor.

The opening ceremony was followed by dances of india featuring dance form from all over india followed by Dance Performance by Bollywood dance by celebriry choreographer Ganesh Acharya.