The Power of Courage in Filmmaking: Emerging Directors Challenge Conventions with iPhone 16 Pro Max

In an initiative to democratize filmmaking and push creative boundaries, four emerging Indian filmmakers are mentored by industry icons Konkona Sen Sharma, Vikramaditya Motwane, Lijo Jose Pellissery, and Vetri Maaran. The 2025 MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone program empowers MAMI alumni to create short films using the latest technology, including the iPhone 16 Pro Max for shooting and MacBook Pro with M4 Max for editing. This year’s filmmakers—Amrita Bagchi, Rohin Raveendran Nair, Chanakya Vyas, and Shalini Vijayakumar—are exploring themes of legacy, change, and personal expression through their unique cinematic visions.

• Amrita Bagchi's 'Tinctoria': A psychological thriller set in Kolkata, this film delves into the historical legacy of indigo farming and its modern-day repercussions. Using Cinematic Mode, Bagchi creates a claustrophobic atmosphere with sharp depth of field, leveraging the speed and flexibility of iPhone 16 Pro Max.

• Rohin Raveendran Nair's 'Kovarty': Set in the coastal city of Alleppey, this magical realist love story explores the relationship between a typewriter and its typist. Nair uses the small form factor of the iPhone to capture unique perspectives, such as the POV from inside the typewriter.

• Chanakya Vyas's 'Mangya': A coming-of-age tale about an 11-year-old boy and his pet rooster, Vyas utilizes Action Mode for smooth tracking shots and the high-quality audio capabilities of iPhone 16 Pro Max to capture the ambient noise of suburban Mumbai.

• Shalini Vijayakumar's 'Seeing Red': A comedic horror film set in a Tamil household in the 1980s, this narrative explores repressed emotions through slow-motion sequences and the 5x Telephoto lens. The film aims to subvert traditional cinematic tropes while maintaining a light-hearted spirit.

Mentors and participants alike highlight the transformative potential of shooting on iPhone and editing on MacBook Pro, emphasizing the speed, flexibility, and creative freedom these tools offer.