The second edition of the Red Lorry Film Festival, organized by BookMyShow, concluded this past weekend, celebrating cinematic excellence with a series of dynamic screenings across Mumbai. Over the course of three days, the festival showcased more than 120 films from around the world, drawing large crowds to the city’s premier venues, Maison Inox at Jio World Plaza and Maison PVR at Jio World Drive.
The festival’s competition segment saw “Paul and Paulette Take a Bath”, directed by Jethro Massey, and “Souleymane’s Story”, helmed by Boris Lojkine, winning top honors. “Paul and Paulette Take a Bath” claimed victory in the “Fresh Frames” category, while “Souleymane’s Story” triumphed in the competition for its poignant narrative. Both films impressed a distinguished jury panel, including filmmakers Vikramaditya Motwane, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, and Atul Sabharwal, alongside actor Prachee Shah Paandya and PVR executive Sanjeev Kumar Bijli.
“It’s such an honor to receive this award,” said Jethro Massey, expressing his excitement about bringing the misadventures of his quirky characters, Paul and Paulette, to Indian audiences. “I can’t wait to share this story with the viewers here, and I hope this recognition encourages more people to see the film.”
Boris Lojkine and Bruno Nahon, the director and producer of “Souleymane’s Story,” added, “We are deeply honored by this recognition from a prominent Asian festival. To know that Souleymane’s life story resonated with both the jury and the audience is incredibly energizing. It motivates us to continue telling meaningful, emotional stories.”
The festival also featured “I’m Nevanka”, which won the Critics’ Pick award, and expanded this year to Hyderabad with its “Parallel Verse” program, further broadening its reach and impact across India. BookMyShow’s efforts to transition beyond its roots in online movie ticketing into curated live entertainment experiences have taken a significant leap with this festival.
The event opened with Tim Fehlbaum’s “September 5” and concluded with the screening of “One To One: John & Yoko” by Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards.
A number of Bollywood luminaries graced the event, including Aamir Khan, Subhash Ghai, Neetu Kapoor, Tina Ambani, and Simi Garewal. Noteworthy special screenings included a 45th anniversary celebration of the iconic “Karz” and a tribute to legendary actress Smita Patil on her 70th birthday, with a screening of “Mirch Masala”, attended by her son, actor Prateik Smita Patil.
In addition to the films, the festival offered industry masterclasses by Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga, acclaimed producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, and renowned screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, offering a wealth of knowledge to emerging filmmakers.
“We’ve raised the bar for cinematic experiences in India with this edition of the Red Lorry Film Festival,” said Ashish Saksena, the festival director and BookMyShow’s COO for Cinemas. “The overwhelming response, packed screenings, and vibrant engagement reaffirm our belief in the power of storytelling to unite audiences across languages, genres, and cultures.”
The Red Lorry Film Festival was presented by BookAChange, an initiative by the BookMyShow Foundation dedicated to empowering emerging artists in the world of cinema.
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