In May 2026, Apple published a story on its official Newsroom highlighting the latest results of "MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone," a filmmaking program run with India's Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI)[1]. This year, four emerging filmmakers created short films using iPhone 17 Pro Max, and all of the finished works are available on MAMI's YouTube channel[1]. It is a clear example of how far a smartphone camera can now go in professional filmmaking.

The "MAMI Select" program for shooting short films on iPhone

"MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone" is a filmmaking program hosted by MAMI[1]. This year, filmmakers Shreela Agarwal, Ritesh Sharma, Robin Joy, and Dhritisree Sarkar took part, each creating a short film around their own theme[1].

The mentors include Sriram Raghavan, writer and director of the acclaimed Indian film "Andhadhun" (2018), along with Chaitanya Tamhane, Dibakar Banerjee, and Geetu Mohandas[1]. All of them are directors who have been recognized at festivals such as the Venice International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival[1].

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, noted that last year's entry "Seeing Red" surpassed 1 million views on YouTube and "Kovarty" won Best Short Film at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, and said the program has a ripple effect that nurtures a new generation of filmmakers[1].

ProRes RAW and 8x optical zoom expand visual expression

The films were made with iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple's flagship smartphone[1]. Each work draws on the device's professional video features depending on the scene.

Agarwal's "11.11" centers on difficult lighting conditions, such as under streetlights and on dimly lit beaches[1]. The team recorded data in ProRes RAW (a high-quality capture format that allows extensive control over tone and color in editing) and raised the ISO in post-production, finishing with bright, sharp images while preserving detail in dark scenes[1]. Using the built-in stabilization, they could glide right beside the actors and even shoot while climbing rocks on the beach[1].

For Sharma's "She Sells Seashells," Cinematic mode—which lets you shift how the background blurs—was used in scenes that move between reality and the character's emotions[1]. The Audio Mix feature, which focuses on the sound you need while suppressing wind and noise, also kept the intended audio amid the bustle of the beach and a carnival[1].

Joy's "Pathanam" involved a lot of shooting in unstable environments, such as on a boat in the middle of a lake[1]. Using Action mode, which delivers stable footage even when handheld, the device kept running smoothly through a grueling schedule thanks to the vapor chamber (a cooling structure that uses vapor) that dissipates internal heat[1]. For Sarkar's "Kathar Katha," the 8x optical zoom equivalent to 200mm was used to convey emotion through close-up images of characters' expressions and fine details[1].

A workflow that combines Mac and iPad Pro

In this program, Apple products were used not only for shooting but also for editing and finishing[1]. The filmmakers paired a MacBook Pro and iPad Pro powered by the M5 chip, adopting a workflow of editing footage on the spot[1].

Sharma described recording ambient sound with the built-in microphone, transferring files immediately, and editing on a MacBook Pro as being "like a mobile studio"[1]. On set, they also used the Sidecar feature, which extends the Mac display to an iPad, to check edits with an iPad Pro as a second monitor[1].

For Joy's film, AI-powered mask tracking in Adobe Premiere Pro (a feature that automatically tracks and isolates a subject) cut finishing work that was expected to take about 3 months down to 3 weeks[1]. This was possible because the Neural Accelerators in the MacBook Pro's GPU could run such AI processing quickly on the device itself[1].

Even on indie production sets where large lighting rigs are hard to arrange, being able to handle everything from shooting to finishing with just an everyday iPhone and Mac was an advantage cited by all the participating creators[1].

Summary

"MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone" is a program showing that, by combining iPhone 17 Pro Max with a Mac, you can step into professional filmmaking even with a limited budget and equipment. Through four short films, it concretely shows how far features such as ProRes RAW, Action mode, and 8x optical zoom can expand creative range and freedom on set. All of the finished works can be viewed on MAMI's YouTube channel.

Source: https://www.apple.com/jp/newsroom/2026/05/how-filmmakers-are-redefining-the-art-form-with-mami-select-filmed-on-iphone/