New Delhi, May 12 -- A new generation of filmmakers is redefining independent cinema through smartphone cameras, proving that compelling storytelling no longer depends on expensive equipment or massive production setups. This year's Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) initiative further highlighted how smartphone filmmaking is transforming not only the tools of cinema but also the voices and narratives brought to the screen.

Acclaimed filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, known for the award-winning "Andhadhun", served as a mentor for the programme. According to Raghavan, filmmaking today is increasingly about creative vision rather than expensive equipment, with smartphones helping democratise the art form for emerging creators, The Indian E...