Anupama Chopra Thursday said the JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival was in solidarity with the #MeToo movement and understands the pain caused by its decision to drop some of the films from the event. At the opening ceremony of the 20th edition of the event, festival director Anupama said they are starting this edition with "conflicted emotions".

After the #MeToo movement intensified in the entertainment industry, MAMI dropped AIB production's "Chintu Ka Birthday" from the festival's lineup over allegations of sexual misconduct against two of its members - Tanmay Bhatt and Gursimran Khamba. Recently, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who has been accused of shielding director Vikas Bahl in an alleged sexual harassment case, stepped down as the board member. Rajat Kapoor's "Kadakh" was also dropped from the festival as the actor-filmmaker was accused of harassment. Filmmaker Shazia Iqbal questioned the festival's decision to drop her short film "Bebaak", which had Kashyap as co-producers.