The 21st edition of the Third Eye Asian Film Festival will kick off in Mumbai today. The opening film will be the acclaimed Chinese drama The Black Dog, which won the Best Film award at the Cannes Film Festival. A total of 61 films have been selected for the festival, which will run from today through the 16th of this month, with screenings scheduled in Andheri, Sion, and Thane.

The Asian Spectrum section will feature films from countries including China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, and Bhutan, showcasing a wide variety of storytelling styles. South Korea will be highlighted in the Country Focus segment, with six of its films being showcased. Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be honoured with the Asian Cinema Culture Award, while journalist Rafique Baghdadi will receive the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award.

The festival will also feature open forums with jury members, masterclasses with industry experts, and special screenings.