Considered as one of the world's greatest living directors Greek film-maker Theo Angelopoulos was honored with the international lifetime achievement award in the closing ceremony of the 11^th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) for giving thought-provoking and visually appealing cinema. His distinctive style and work has influenced a number of young filmmakers.. A retrospective of his films was organized to salute the maestro.

During his stay in Mumbai, Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos visited Whistling Woods film school in suburban Mumbai and shared his views on cinema with the 350 students studying there. Angelopoulos said he was not very impressed by Hollywood cinema “which is in chaos most of the time”. About critics, he said, “the directors are not chozen by the critics or by the audience but by the time” and that for him all of his films are chapters of the same film”.

The "God" of the Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan was also honoured by MFF with the Lifetime Achievement award for completing 40 years in the film industry. His oeuvre comprises from rib-tickling comedies to tear-jerkers to subtle, nuanced performances in art-house films. It can be said without doubt that there is nothing in acting that Mr. Bachchan hasn't tried his hand at and succeeded.

Organized by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), and supported by Reliance Big Entertainment, the 11^th edition of the festival took place from October 29 to November 5, 2009 in Mumbai, the film capital of India. MFF has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals.