MAMI opens its Delhi chapter
New Delhi, June 9: MAMI Festival Director Anupama Chopra on Saturday launched MAMI Year Round Programme here in presence of filmmakers and board members Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Bharadwaj.
Cinema exhibition chain PVR Cinemas is piloting the Delhi Edition of MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image), read a statement to IANS.
The coming of the fest to Delhi was marked by screening of Wes Anderson's "Isle of Dogs" at PVR ECX, Chanakya. It will be followed by Ari Aster's "Hereditary" on Sunday.
"I am thrilled that in the 20th year of MAMI, we are stepping out of Mumbai. We hope we can help foster a great cinema culture in Delhi. Thank you PVR for all your support," Anupama said.
The launch was officially opened by Ajay Bijli, Managing Director, PVR, and Sanjeev Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR; along with Akhtar, Kashyap, Bharadwaj, Anupama and festival's creative director Smriti Kiran.
Ajay feels the "Year Round Programme represents one of the first opportunities for audiences in Delhi to see the very best from across the globe".
"With this launch, PVR aspires to bring together distinguished industry specialists and discerning movie lovers through accessible screenings, panels, workshops and showcasing cinema that embraces diversity, innovation and unique perspectives," Ajay said.
Kiran was thrilled to get the MAMI Year Round Programme to Delhi.
"Our commitment is to showcase the best of the cinema for movie lovers and create a strong film culture in the city. To alter sensibility, you have to engage regularly and facilitate viewers to celebrate and dissect, discuss and debate, engage and argue, agree and disagree about what they love most: Cinemaa.We have big plans for Delhi."
The MAMI Year Round Programme launched in 2016 in Mumbai, started with the belief that it is not enough to have a week-long film festival. The Academy now hosts weekly screenings, workshops and conversation sessions for film lovers in the country.
Till date, the MAMI Year Round Programme in Mumbai has screened over 40 films which include "Lady Bird", "The Square", "Zama", "The Shape of Water", "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri" and "Village Rockstars".
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
