Filmmakers demand declaration of Maharashtra State Film Award results

Pune: The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal on May 15 wrote to the state government to declare the results of the Maharashtra State Film Awards for two pending years — 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal (ABMCM) stated the film submission for the state award nominations had been done much before, but the screening for the judges and its announcement were still pending.

“The National Film Awards were announced by the Directorate of Film Festival and awards were also given for the same. The state government needed to conduct the awards similarly. Announcement of winners is possible if not conducting the ceremony,” Meghraj Rajebhosale, Mahamandal’s president, said.

Every year in May, the cultural department of the state government conducts the state film awards for the films that have been released in the previous year. The awards have gained immense prestige over the years, being the official platform of the state government to recognize Marathi filmmakers.

Apart from the memento, the award also carried cash prizes that motivated filmmakers. A senior filmmaker said, “It is true the state government is tackling other important issues at present. However, the situation had improved last year after October and the government could have declared the awards for 2019-20 at least. A ceremony is not required, but just the declaration of results is enough.”

Another filmmaker, Sameer Vidwans, said, “Once everything starts becoming normal, I think the state government will definitely hold the ceremony. Meanwhile, they can declare the winners.”

National award winning director Shivaji Lotan Patil said, “Maybe once the situation normalizes, the state government should take this up on priority.”

State minister of culture, Amit Deshmukh, said, “Arranging the screening, getting together the jury and other mandatory procedures have been difficult in the past one-and-a-half-years. There have been two Covid waves and the entire state government machinery has been focused on fighting the virus. However, we shall soon hold a discussion with all stakeholders to make a decision on this.”