If you arrived late at PVR Lido in Mumbai, where four short films in Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali were presented as part of the MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) Select, you might not have realized that all the films were shot using an iPhone 17 Pro Max. This year’s offerings took audiences through diverse narratives, from a clandestine affair set against the backdrop of Mumbai to a young misfit’s journey navigating the vibrant beaches of Goa, along with themes of divinity and humanity in Kerala.
MAMI 2026 marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between MAMI and Apple. Last year’s short film, Seeing Red, a Tamil production mentored by Vetrimaaran, has garnered over one million views on YouTube. This year’s mentorship roster featured prominent filmmakers such as Sriram Raghavan, Chaitanya Tamhane, Dibakar Banerjee, and Geetu Mohandas—all recognized with accolades ranging from India’s National Film Awards to the Asian Film Awards and the Venice International Film Festival. Filmmakers Shreela Agarwal, Ritesh Sharma, Robin Joy, and Dhritisree Sarkar utilized the pro camera system, cinema-grade video capabilities, and the advanced features of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, in addition to leveraging a MacBook Pro with M5 and an iPad Pro with M5 for support in their productions.
Paradise Fall
Robin Joy, influenced by filmmakers Werner Herzog and Giuseppe Tornatore, realized early on that unconventional storytelling can be compelling. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, Joy, who previously worked as an associate director and dialogue writer for All We Imagine as Light—a film that won the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival—directed his MAMI Select short Pathanam (Paradise Fall). The narrative centers on an angel collapsing in the backyard of an atheist, sparking ensuing socio-political chaos. Joy noted that the iPhone 17 Pro Max enabled him to utilize Pro-Res 4K RAW shooting, enhancing the dynamic range available during post-production.
He described the unique landscapes of Vypin, Kochi as instrumental in achieving a sense of magical realism, facilitated by the iPhone’s advanced camera capabilities. One notable scene features a moon’s reflection captured at night, enhancing the film’s visual allure. Joy further highlighted the effectiveness of the iPhone’s Action Mode when filming aboard a small boat in a lake, allowing for close interaction with subjects without the intimidation often associated with larger cinema cameras.
Geetu Mohandas, Joy’s mentor, emphasized the emotional connection of cinema over the medium used, reflecting on her beginnings as a filmmaker. She recounted her preference for solitary work early in her career, aiming not to overshadow Joy’s artistic vision.
A Practical Shooting Option
Shreela Agarwal, a graduate from Singapore’s Lasalle College of the Arts, diverted from filmmaking to pursue a career in boxing after a significant injury. Her latest film, 11.11, described as “a love letter to Mumbai after dark,” chronicles the story of two women on a first date. Agarwal’s protagonists navigate the city’s streets and dim beaches, presenting certain challenges regarding lighting. She stated, “We tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max in a very unique way.” The ProRes RAW data capture feature enabled her team to manipulate ISO settings during post-production, highlighting the practical advantages of using an iPhone for aspiring filmmakers.
Shift Focus
Ritesh Sharma attributes his roots in street theatre as a foundational element in his transition to filmmaking. His iPhone short, She Sells Seashells, follows Maruti, a 17-year-old Rajasthani migrant selling trinkets on the beach, exploring her aspiration to enter an upscale seaside restaurant—a seemingly trivial pursuit that becomes significant in Sharma’s narrative. Sharma explained that the iPhone 17 Pro Max allowed for deeper emotional engagement with the character, utilizing its cinematic mode to shift focus between her reality and inner experiences.
In preproduction, he recorded sounds using the iPhone’s native microphones for immediate transfer and editing on a MacBook Pro.
Zooming In
Dhritisree Sarkar’s first short film, Chhaddonam (Pen Name), filmed on an iPhone 7 during the COVID-19 pandemic, was acquired by MUBI. “Accessibility is important for a beginner,” she stated. Her new film, Kathar Katha (The Tale of Katha), presents the story of a news anchor facing a rare medical condition. Sarkar uses close-up shots of a luchi (a Bengali bread) to depict her character’s internal turmoil. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 8x optical zoom at 200 mm proved crucial for conveying the character’s emotions effectively.
Amid a content landscape increasingly focused on short-form media, these films demonstrate how smartphones are reshaping filmmaking and the stories that can be told. As director Sriram Raghavan noted, “Filmmaking today is about vision, and iPhone makes it possible for anyone with a strong voice to create something meaningful.”
The four short films can be viewed on MAMI’s YouTube channel.
Published on May 13, 2026.
