Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his exceptional storytelling skills & critically-acclaimed films, often takes to his social media handles to share his opinions on the ongoing events in the industry. On Monday, he took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle to express his disappointment and frustration over the cancellation of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival’s 2025 edition. Calling it a “cruel irony,” he mentioned that the city, which is often hailed as India’s financial as well as cinematic capital, has failed to sustain its flagship film festival.
The 57-year-old filmmaker wrote, “It’s a cruel irony that Mumbai draped in the glitz of being India’s financial and cinematic capital cannot keep alive a film festival of its own. Abandoned by the self-appointed gatekeepers of cinema who chased shinier stages and safer bets it was left in the hands of a few passionate believers to run on pure faith. And now that fragile flame has been snuffed out. No ceremony. No outrage. Just a slow, silent forgetting. What should have been a cultural cornerstone has been reduced to a footnote – another casualty of apathy dressed as progress.”
SEE ALSO: After Misconduct Claims Against Pratik Shah, Hansal Mehta Urges Accountability, Dharma Production Responds
Mehta’s remarks came shortly after Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the Festival Director of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, issued an official statement on the cancellation of the festival. The announcement read, “This is to inform you that the 2025 edition of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will not take place as we are in the process of revamping the festival with a dynamic vision and a new team.”
It’s a cruel irony that Mumbai draped in the glitz of being India’s financial and cinematic capital cannot keep alive a film festival of its own.
Abandoned by the self-appointed gatekeepers of cinema who chased shinier stages and safer bets it was left in the hands of a few… https://t.co/Y2BPYoEPUr
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) July 21, 2025
“We are working diligently to reschedule the festival and will announce the new dates for the 2026 edition as soon as possible,” they concluded the statement.
SEE ALSO: Hansal Mehta Reveals He Paid Anurag Kashyap ₹75,000 For Film That Never Released: ‘Usko Paise Chahiye The…’
For those who don’t know, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival serves as a vital cultural platform for showcasing a strong lineup of independent, regional, and international films. With the 2025 edition getting cancelled, the organisers have now promised to plan a major revamp aimed at returning in 2026 with a renewed vision, energy, and commitment to celebrating films across the globe.
