25 Must-Watch Movies at the 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, one of Asia’s premier cinematic events, returns for its 2024 edition from October 19–24, bringing an electrifying lineup of films and cultural experiences. This six-day celebration of global cinema will feature over 110 films from more than 45 countries, with works presented in over 50 languages across a variety of lengths and genres, all part of the festival’s Official Selection. The highlight of the festival is the South Asia Competition, which spotlights the most groundbreaking contemporary films from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, showcasing this year’s most outstanding cinematic achievements.

MAMI 2024 will open on October 19th with Payal Kapadia’s debut fiction feature All We Imagine as Light, setting the tone for the festival. The grand finale on October 24th will feature Anora, the 2024 Palme d’Or winner, closing the event on a high note.

This article offers a curated list of 25 must-watch titles for this festival season, providing valuable insights to help you craft the ideal festival schedule. Whether you’re a devoted cinephile or simply seeking to experience the standout films, this list will guide you in checking off some of the most anticipated movies of the year during MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024.

1. All We Imagine as Light by Payal Kapadia

Genre: Drama | Runtime: 1h 55m | Language: Malayalam

All We Imagine as Light follows the journey of two Malayali nurses, Prabha and Anu, who live and work in Mumbai while grappling with challenges in their personal relationships. In search of relief, they set out on a road trip to a coastal town, where a mystical forest serves as a symbolic backdrop for their dreams and desires. The film paints a rich portrait of these working-class women as they navigate the struggles of urban migration and the alienation they experience in the fast-paced life of Mumbai. Debanjan Dhar in his review states, “Through Kapadia’s storytelling, the film offers a poignant exploration of their aspirations, shedding light on the complexities of their urban existence.”

Interim Festival Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said, “We’re delighted to open the festival this year with a film that has the city of Mumbai at its heart. All We Imagine as Light will always be remembered as a film that won the Grand Prix at Cannes, but it is also an independent film that faced many challenges, especially in finding funding, before it debuted in competition at Cannes and won accolades all over the world. As we begin a new phase in MAMI, this film embodies the kind of cinema that MAMI would like to showcase and provide a platform that will celebrate and enable independent cinema of every kind to reach a wider audience.”

2. Anora by Sean Baker

Genre: Comedy/Drama | Runtime: 2h 19m | Language: English

This year, the prestigious Palme d’Or was awarded to Anora, a film that has captivated both audiences and critics alike. In line with Sean Baker’s signature humanistic approach to depicting sex work in the U.S., Anora offers a sprawling, complex, and comedic exploration of its subject.

At the center of the film is Mikey Madison’s compelling portrayal of the titular character. With empathy and charm, she navigates the unusual situation of marrying into the family of a fabulously wealthy Russian oligarch. While the film takes its time—perhaps a bit too much—to unfold the layers of what happens next, Baker skillfully maintains the emotional core amid the comedic mishaps and over-the-top scenarios.

As in his previous works, Baker shines a light on individuals often overlooked by society. Through the humor and hijinks of Anora, he invites us to recognize the humanity in those we tend to sideline. This latest film marks a new peak in Baker’s career, as he broadens the scope of his storytelling while remaining true to the themes that have always defined his work.

3. A Different Man by Aaron Schimberg

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Mystery & Thriller/Sci-Fi / Runtime: 1h 52m / Language: English | World Cinema

Aaron Schimberg’s darkly comedic film A Different Man centers on aspiring actor Edward, who undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically alter his appearance. However, what initially seems like the fulfillment of his dreams quickly spirals into a nightmare as he loses the role he was destined to play and becomes consumed by the desire to reclaim what he has lost. High On Films critic Julian Malandruccolo captures the film’s essence in his review, stating, “Unassuming in its hidden complexities, A Different Man never beats you over the head with a streamlined sense of identification because Schimberg is wise to show how everyone in this story exhibits varying degrees of scumminess.”

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4. A Traveler’s Needs (Yeohaengjaui Pilyo) by Hong Sangsoo

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 1h 30m / Language: Korean | World Cinema

Hong Sang-soo’s A Traveler’s Needs (2024) represents his third collaboration with French icon Isabelle Huppert. The film tells the story of a French woman who, after playing a child’s recorder in a park and experiencing financial hardships, becomes a French teacher for two women. Throughout her journey, she finds solace in lying on rocks and turns to makgeolli for comfort. Debanjan Dhar highlights the film’s ethereal quality in his review, stating, “A Traveler’s Needs is as light and elusive as gossamer, calmly centered by Huppert’s tantalizing, sparkling performance.”

5. An Unfinished Film by Lou Ye

Genre: Drama/Documentary / Runtime: 1h 45m / Language: Chinese / World Cinema

An Unfinished Film is a 2024 docufiction directed by Lou Ye and co-written by Lou and Yingli Ma. It premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2024, as part of the Special Screenings section. The film is set in January 2020, following a film crew that reunites near Wuhan to resume shooting a project that was halted a decade earlier. However, they soon face unexpected challenges as cities enter lockdown. With a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Namrata Joshi of The New Indian Express remarks in her review, “It’s the ominous build-up to the lockdown that has the characteristic urgency, tension, and suspense associated with Lou Ye’s cinema.”

6. Armand by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 1h 56m / Language: Norwegian / World Cinema

In the days leading up to the school holidays, an incident occurs between six-year-old Armand and Jon. The school calls in the parents for a meeting, but the management is unclear about what actually transpired. Was it merely a children’s game, or something far more serious? This encounter between the two boys sets off a chain of events that compels both parents and school staff into a gripping struggle for redemption, where madness, desire, and obsession come to the forefront. In our review, we note that Armand, shot by Pål Ulvik Rokseth against a bleak, blanched color palette, maintains a chilly austerity in tone. However, Tøndel cannot resist interspersing a series of stylized sequences, including a harrowing climactic moment in which Elisabeth fights against the forcefulness of judgment.

7. Dying (Sterben) by Matthias Glasner

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 3 hours / Language: German / World Cinema

Dying (German Title: Sterben) is a 2024 German drama that explores the lives of a married couple facing death, while their two children remain preoccupied with their own issues. The film received the Best Picture award at the 2024 German Film Awards. In his review, top critic Diego Semerene of Slant Magazine remarks, “The film’s diligent script and nuanced performances are such that the depressing material stops short of turning into a depressing experience.”

8. Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard

Genre: Musical/Comedy / Runtime: 2h 10m / Language: Spanish / World Cinema

Directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez is an audacious fever dream that transcends genres and expectations. Through vibrant song and dance alongside striking visuals, the film follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each in pursuit of their own happiness. The formidable cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) recruits Rita (Zoe Saldaña), a disillusioned lawyer trapped in a dead-end job, to help her fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. A critic from Vanity Fair observes, “Emilia Pérez charms, partly, because of its imperfections, its bold choices that don’t always neatly land. The film walks a fine line between daring and ridiculous, and unlike some other big-swing movies at this year’s Cannes, Emilia Pérez stays mostly on the side of good. Its heart is in the right place, as its style.”

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9. Good One by India Donaldson

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 1h 30m / Language: English / World Cinema

India Donaldson’s Good One (2024) follows 17-year-old Sam as she navigates a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, grappling with the conflicting egos of her father and his oldest friend. David Elrich from Indiewire describes the film as “a slight but sensitive and fantastically assured debut that unfolds with the pointillistic detail of a great short story. India Donaldson’s Good One is a coming-of-age story that jettisons all of the genre’s most familiar trappings in favor of a long walk in the woods.”

10. It’s Not Me (C’est pas moi) by Leos Carax

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 42 min / Language: French / World Cinema

Leos Carax, known for his last feature Annette, starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, presents It’s Not Me (C’est pas moi), a self-portrait that revisits over 40 years of his filmography in a free-form style. Siddhant Adlakha of Variety remarks in his review, “Perhaps the most accurate impression of a late-era Jean-Luc Godard experiment anyone has ever attempted… probes a variety of personal and political subjects, but never quite beats with the furious heart and provocative spirit of Godard’s twilight era.”

11. Kneecap by Rich Peppiatt

Genre: Comedy/Musical / Runtime: 1h 45m / Language: Irish / World Cinema

In 2022, Ireland submitted the critically acclaimed film The Quiet Girl for the Oscar for Best International Feature. The following January, it made history by becoming the first Irish film to receive a nomination. This milestone, coinciding with the year Northern Ireland passed legislation officially recognizing the Irish language, prompted many to realize for the first time that the Irish language even existed. In our review, Julian Malandruccolo notes, “Much of the fire that sets Kneecap on its way stems from Julian Ullrichs’s and Chris Gill’s editing, sending the film into a playful odyssey of split screens, onscreen cartoon graphics, and gleefully assembled drug trips.”

12. Rumours by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson

Genre: Comedy/Drama / Runtime: 1h 58m / Language: English, Swedish / World Cinema

Rumours is a film by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, featuring a stellar cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Rolando Ravello, Charles Dance, and Nikki Amuka-Bird. Guy Maddin is known for his distinctive style, often blending elements of silent film aesthetics with surrealist storytelling, resulting in uniquely imaginative and visually striking narratives. The plot revolves around the leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies as they convene for the annual G7 summit to draft a provisional statement on a global crisis. However, they quickly become spectacles of incompetence, facing increasingly surreal challenges as night descends in the misty woods, leaving them to realize they are suddenly alone.

13. Sasquatch Sunset by David Zellner, Nathan Zellner

Genre: Comedy/Adventure / Runtime: 1h 30m / Language: English, Swedish / World Cinema

Sasquatch Sunset (2024) by David and Nathan Zellner is a film that, without a doubt, may not appeal to everyone—or even most people, for that matter. The premise is simple enough; so simple that the challenge lies in uncovering any depth within these woods. The first half of the title “Sasquatch Sunset” is to be taken literally, as the film focuses on a quartet of mythical man-apes, portrayed by co-director Nathan and co-stars Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, and Christophe Zajak-Denek, as they navigate their daily lives. They forage, engage in their primal instincts, and their curious minds turn every day into an adventure. In our review, a critic noted, “There is undeniably a boldness that comes with making a feature-length film entirely dialogue-free, reliant only on mise-en-scène, measured grunting, and body language to recount the tale.”

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14. Suspended Time (Hors du temps) by Olivier Assayas

Genre: Comedy/Romance / Runtime: 1h 45m / Language: French / World Cinema

Suspended Time (Hors du temps), written and directed by Olivier Assayas, explores the dynamics between two married couples who quarantine together in a country house during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. As they navigate this shared isolation, tensions rise and revelations about their relationships come to light. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian notes in his review, “Olivier Assayas’ thinly disguised autobiographical study of a film-maker’s Edenic experience during Covid isolation is a civilised pleasure.”

15. The Damned by Roberto Minervini

Genre: War/Western / Runtime: 1h 29m / Language: French / World Cinema

The Damned is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Roberto Minervini. Set in 1862 during the American Civil War, the film follows a group of volunteer Union soldiers as they patrol territories in the western United States. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2024, where it won the Best Director award. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 14 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10. Meanwhile, Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.

16. The Girl with the Needle (Pigen med nålen) by Magnus von Horn

Genre: Crime/Drama / Runtime: 1h 55m / Language: Danish / World Cinema

The Girl with the Needle is a 2024 crime drama film directed by Magnus von Horn, featuring a screenplay co-written by von Horn and Line Langebek. With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the story centers on Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne), a young factory worker struggling to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen.

After becoming unemployed, abandoned, and pregnant, she encounters Dagmar (Trine Dyrholm), a charismatic woman running an underground adoption agency that helps mothers find foster homes for their unwanted children. With no other options, Karoline becomes a wet-nurse. A strong bond develops between the two women, but Karoline’s world is turned upside down when she discovers the shocking truth behind her work. Inspired by a true story and directed by Magnus von Horn (known for The Here After and Sweat), The Girl with the Needle presents an unsettling tale about a woman searching for love and a sense of morality.

In our review, Nikhil writes, “The film paints a harrowing picture of existence, where profound suffering marks both beginnings and endings. The film functions as a powerful indictment of the violence perpetrated against women while simultaneously offering a poignant portrait of their longing for tenderness and freedom.”

17. The Substance by Coralie Fargeat

Genre: Horror/Sci-Fi / Runtime: 2h 20m / Language: English / World Cinema

MAMI 2024’s most anticipated movie is The Substance, which has garnered rave reviews from its audience. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film follows Elisabeth Sparkle, a star of an aerobics show, who faces a devastating setback on her 50th birthday when her boss fires her. In her distress, she is offered a substance by a laboratory that promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself. One of the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes, where the movie holds a 90% rating, states, “Extraordinary… This is daring and stylish.” At the same time, Edgar Batres of High On Films feels that “the movie is an ultra-violent satire about the obsession with eternal youth set in Hollywood—a perfect scenario to explore ageism, particularly towards women—feels tailor-made for the current zeitgeist.”

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18. The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodóvar

Genre: Drama/Comedy / Runtime: 1h 50m / Language: English / World Cinema

The Room Next Door (Spanish Title: La habitación de al lado) is a 2024 Spanish drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar in his English-language full-length debut. It is based on the novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez. Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore star, with John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola in supporting roles. The film premiered on September 2, 2024, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Golden Lion, marking a first for a Spanish film. The plot explores the rift between Martha, a very imperfect mother and war correspondent, and her resentful daughter, along with Martha’s relationship with author Ingrid. Stephanie Zacharek of Time wrote that “if it’s possible to make a joyful movie about death, Almodóvar has just done it.”

19. The Shameless by Konstantin Bojanov

Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery & Thriller / Runtime: 1h 55m / Language: Hindi / Asia Premiere

Director Konstantin Bojanov, whose groundbreaking film Avé garnered international acclaim after its 2011 Cannes premiere, returns to the prestigious festival with his latest feature, The Shameless. Joining a distinguished lineup of Indian-focused films, including Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light and Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, Bojanov explores a powerful drama centered on two Indian women with extraordinary stories to tell. After killing a cop in a Delhi brothel, Renuka seeks refuge in a northern Indian community of sex workers, where she begins a forbidden romance with 17-year-old Devika. Against all odds, they strive to forge their own path to freedom. High On Films reviewer Niikhiil Akhiil writes, “Anasuya Sengupta’s ferocious performance as Renuka is not to be missed, her portrayal bursting with raw intensity and magnetic energy.”

20. Santosh by Sandhya Suri

Genre: Thriller/Drama / Runtime: 2h 8m / Language: Hindi / South Asia Premiere

Santosh is a 2024 Hindi-language crime drama film written and directed by Sandhya Suri in her feature film directorial debut. It is an international co-production involving the United Kingdom, India, Germany, and France. Newly widowed, Santosh inherits her husband’s position as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a girl’s body is discovered, she becomes involved in the investigation under the guidance of the charismatic feminist inspector Sharma. In his review, Debanjan points out that “Sandhya Suri’s searing film essentially tracks the protagonist’s coming into full, uncomfortable consciousness of the varied implications, often troubling, that the job brings and exposes her to.”

21. Girls Will Be Girls by Shuchi Talati

Genre: Romance/Comedy / Runtime: 1h 59m / Language: English, Hindi / France, India, Norway / South Asia Premiere

Written and directed by Shuchi Talati, Girls Will Be Girls (2024), which she also produced alongside Richa Chadha, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, competing in the festival’s competition section in January 2024. With “generally favorable” reviews on Metacritic, the film follows 16-year-old Mira, who discovers desire and romance at a strict boarding school in the Himalayas. However, her sexual awakening is cut short by her protective mother, who never had the chance to experience the same liberating process of maturation. In his review, Virat Nehru writes, “The film details the many ways in which this notion of control and oppression permeates the lived experience of the characters in the film because this interplay is truly fascinating.”

22. Love (Kjaerlighet) by Dag Johan Haugerud

Genre: Drama/Romance / Runtime: 1h 59m / Language: Norwegian / World Cinema

Love is a 2024 Norwegian drama film directed by Dag Johan Haugerud, starring Andrea Bræin Hovig and Tayo Cittadella Jacobsen. It is the second entry in Haugerud’s “Sex, Love, Dreams” trilogy, following 2024’s Sex. The film follows a female doctor in her late forties who has no desire for a permanent relationship. However, when a male nurse discusses how random meetings with men can sometimes lead to rewarding and non-committal sex, she realizes that this is exactly what she wants. A Cineuropa critic points out that, “Haugerud’s Love strives to be bold.”

23. Sex by Dag Johan Haugerud

Genre: Drama/Romance / Runtime: 2h 5m / Language: Norwegian / World Cinema

Sex by Dag Johan Haugerud follows two colleagues who, in different ways, grapple with similar issues regarding their sexuality. According to Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney states that the film “turns the male character study on its head with a gentle subversiveness that recalls what The Worst Person in the World did with romantic comedy. This superbly acted drama’s refusal to serve up tidy epiphanies might leave you wanting more.”

24. The Sparrow in the Chimney (Der Spatz im Kamin) by Ramon Zürcher

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 1h 57m / Language: Swedish / World Cinema

Ramon Zürcher’s film The Sparrow in the Chimney focuses on a family gathering, where tensions inevitably rise. The setting quickly becomes a place where unresolved emotions and lingering grudges take center stage, driving the film’s emotional arc. This Swedish drama follows Karen and Markus, who live with their children in Karen’s parents’ house, a rural retreat. For Markus’ birthday, the entire family gathers. As the house fills with people, Karen’s anxiety builds until the situation erupts into chaos. In our review, the critic notes, “The Sparrow in the Chimney is an exquisitely controlled drama, whose formal rigor belies sorrow, mystery, and hope, with metaphysical turns throughout.”

25. Shambhala by Min Bahadur Bham

Genre: Drama / Runtime: 2h 30m / Language: Tibetan, Nepali / India Premiere

Min Bahadur Bham’s sophomore feature, Shambhala, takes place in the remote Himalayan region of Nepal. In a polyandrous village, newly married and pregnant Pema tries to adjust to her new life. However, her first husband, Tashi, soon disappears along the trade route to Lhasa. Accompanied by her monk husband, Karma, she sets off into the unforgiving wilderness in search of him, embarking on a journey that becomes one of self-discovery and liberation. A High On Films critic notes that “Shambhala is a film that is constantly alert and permeable to wonder and transcendence, strongly anchored as it is in the belief systems of the community Pema and her husbands belong to.”

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