Mumbai, Oct 25 (IANS): For the first time ever, the Jio MAMI 17th Mumbai Film Festival will host a movie mart -- Mumbai Film Market (MFM) -- to facilitate a much-needed opportunity for filmmakers in India to get their movie made or distributed.

MFM will take place at the fest on October 30.

As many as 24 independent films, 18 documentaries and six short films seeking distribution have been selected from the talent pool by a programming team.

"The primary objective of this initiative is to explore distribution opportunities for critically acclaimed Indian films that are finding it impossible to have a theatrical release," Sameer Mody of Pocket Films, who is organising and putting this initiative together for the Festival, told IANS.

These specially curated films will get an opportunity to pitch their projects to over 35 distributors or platforms.

"In a five- to seven-minute slot of one session each, the filmmakers will have the opportunity to explore distribution deals for multiple platforms. The idea is to show filmmakers that theatrical release is not the be all and end all of film distribution," Mody said.

The distributors include international buyers like Lionsgate, Cinetic Media and Rapid Eye Movies.

Representing the studios are Yash Raj Films, Viacom18 and PVR Pictures. The producers present will be Drishyam and Phantom Films; digital platforms such as HotStar, SonyLIV and HOOQ; and mobile operators like Airtel and Jio.

"Not all films are suitable for theatre viewing. In such cases, filmmakers can explore other options such as releasing their film internationally with the help of an international buyer or release it digitally as well," said Mody.

The list of curated films includes "Peddlers", "Monsoon Shootout", "Haraamkhoor" and "Thithi".

Tamil films such as "Kirumi" and yet-unreleased "Kutrame Thandanai" and "Visaaranai" are also part of MFM.