Paban Kumar's 'Phum Shang' picked for major Intl film fests
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre

New DelhI, October 14 2015: Paban Kumar's National award winning non-feature film Phum Shang (floating life) produced by the Films Division is ready to set out for international competitions.

The selection committee of the 58th International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film made its decision for this year's festival programme and Paban Kumar's Phum Shang was nominated for the Award "Leipziger Ring" .

The festival authority has also invited Paban Kumar to be their guest during the festival and to present the films personally to the public, which would be followed by Q&A session.

Founded in 1955, the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film is one of the oldest documentary festivals in the world held at Leipzig in Germany.

This year the festival will be held from October 26.The film was also selected in the competitive section of Film Southasia 2015, the 10th edition of the biennial festival of South Asian documentaries.

The festival authority informed him that out of the 300 films they received, 60 were worthy of exhibition.

The festival will end on November 22, 2015 with the award-giving ceremony.

The director of the best film will receive the Ram Bahadur Trophy and a cash prize of USD 2,000.The film judged second best will get a citation and a cash prize of USD 1,000.Best Debut Film winner will be awarded a citation and cash prize of USD 1,000.The UNICEF Nepal Award will award the film that best portrays children's issues, which carries a cash prize of USD 1,000 and a citation.

The film was also nominated to be screened at the 12th Jeevika : Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival 2015 to be held from October 30 to November 1, 2015 at Siri Fort Audi III, New Delhi.

Out of 115 entries from filmmakers, the screening committee nominated 19 films for the Jury evaluation.

It was nominated in the category of Water for Life for CMS Vatavaran 2015 � 8th Competitive International Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum held in New Delhi from October 9 to 12, 2015.It was also selected for the Competition Section of SiGNS 2015 to be held at Kochi from Oct 21 to 25, 2015.It will be screened at Hamburg India Week from November 3 to 26, 2015 .

'Phum-Shang' (Floating Life) was also selected for the 34th Jean Rouch International Film Festival, to be held from November 7-15, 2015 at the Mus�e de l'Homme in Paris.

A total of 24 films have been selected out of 660 submissions.

Festival authority informed him to present his film in the festival and discuss it afterwards with the audience.

Phum Shang is a 52-minute long non-feature film that captures life in and around Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in North East India characterized by its unique floating biomass 'phumdi', the primary source of livelihood for the fishermen who live there.

The film covers not only the rich and abundant bio-diversity of the Loktak area but also delves into serious issues as a fallout of development induced poverty.

It also narrates the tale of the displaced fishermen at Loktak lake in Manipur.

Phum Shang earlier bagged the Best Investigative Award in the 62nd National Film Awards 2014 .

It was adjudged the 'Best Long Documentary Award' during the eighth edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala 2015 recently.

Irom Maipak, the cinematographer of the film was selected for the 'Navroz Contractor Award for the Best Cinematographer' in the festival.

Paban Kumar, an alumnus of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata made a number of films that brought accolades from across the globe.

His films Kangla, AFSPA 1958 and A Cry in the Dark were shown at various festivals across the globe.

AFSPA 1958 bagged several international awards including the Fipresci Prize at MIFF, 2006.AFSPA 1958 also bagged the Best Non-Fiction Award at the 56th National Film Awards 2008 and he became the first Swarna Kamal Awardee film maker of Manipur.

His films- Ngaihak Lambida (Along the way), The First Leap, AFSPA 1958 and Mr India were screened in the Indian Panorama non-feature section of the International Film Festival of India held in Goa.

His Mr India won the best award on social issues in National Film Awards in 2009.He was one of the six emerging talents to represent India at Cannes film Festival 2011 .

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