A look back at the 53rd International Film Fest of India, Goa
- Part 1 -

AC Netrajit *

Going to the cinema is my pastime. I am, however, not a frequent cinema-goer. My interest for the cinema is only for acquisition of knowledge and new mindset brought about by the changing pace of the new technology.

If a good film is to be enjoyed, some experts have suggested to see, as far as possible, almost all the cinemas which are screened in the film festivals anywhere. But who will be able to get opportunities to participate in all the film festivals organised at different places of India? Fortunately the fruit of my cherished desire to enjoy such an opportune moment came.

I had undergone the Film Appreciation Course Pune in 2003. In course of my journey relating to cinema, the appreciation course I attended made me think seriously about life vis-a-vis the art of film making. It is a vast world. It is not an easy task to learn about cinema. I got the opportunity to participate in the International Film Festival of India Goa, 2007 as a member of the team selected from Manipur.

The well-known film critic and national awardee R.K. Bidur had taken the leadership of the journey of our team. Earlier I had the opportunity to enjoy some good films which were screened at the International Film Festival of India 2022, Goa. It enhanced my experience and knowledge about cinema.

In this regard it is worthwhile to pay my gratitude and appreciation to the renowned film maker, Shri B. Sanzu Sharma, Secretary Manipur State Film Development Society. I have sweet memories of the festival and these have educative values too. This is what I want to write about.

The 53rd International Film Festival of India was held from 20th to 28th November, 2022 at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa University, Goa and 79 countries participated in the festival. It is worthwhile to mention that 280 films were screened at different places of Goa.

These are : INOX Panaji Screen-1, 2, 3, 4, INOX Porvorim Screen-1, 2, 3, 4 and MAQUINEZ Palace-1. All the Films were screened in 9 Halls. The 53rd International Film Festival of India got off to a spectacular start with the Film industry making sure to deploy a mix of its charismatic artistes.

Shri PS Sreedharan, the Hon’ble Governor of Goa; Dr.Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa; Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ ble Minister of State, Information & Broadcasting were kind enough to inaugurate the festival jointly and several entertainment programmes including devotional performance of Ga-nesh Vandana was shown and dancers performed amidst the beautiful decoration of colorful electrical lights.

Dr. Murugan traced the roots of Indian Cinema from 1913, paying tributes to all the stake-holders who helped it evolve over the decades and concluded by saying : We must remember (late) Shri Manohar Parri-kar, Chief Minister of Goa, who worked to make Goa the permanent venue of IFFI.

Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Sawant said 'I invite producers and investors to invest in Goa, so that we can scale up our film production infrastructure.' He implored the local crowd in Konkani to engage in the entertainment and learning opportunities at their doorstep.

Shri Ravinder Bhakar, Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation, Government of India, said that this year we are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Manipuri cinema through Manipuri Film Screening by showcasing the technical and creative progress achieved.

In addition to film screenings, the festival has hosted a variety of special events such as Masterclasses, Panel Discussions Workshops and a Film and Technology Exhibition. IFFI's Film Bazaar is the largest South Asian film market which will also include various countries and State Pavilions, Co-Production, Market Platforms, Screenwriter's Lab, Book to Box Office etc.

The legendary Spanish film director Carlos Saura was awarded the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award which was accepted on his behalf by his daughter Anna Saura Ramon. The 27 year old filmmaker felt very special to receive the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award in Goa, on behalf of her father. My father loves Indian cinema and Indian culture.

He works hard to find the connection between the flamenco dance and its Indian influence, through his live show Flamenco-India. The opening moments of the inaugural also witnessed some of the stalwarts of Indian cinema – Suniel Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Paresh Rawal, Manoj Bajpayee and others being felicitated by the dignitaries.

There were different categories of cinema in this festival. They were International Competition, Cinema of the World, Tribute, Country Focus, Indian Restored Classic, Indian Panorama (Feature and Non Feature).

In this International Film Festival of India, 2022 two Manipuris were Jury members. They were Shri Imo Singh and Shri Oinam Doren Singh. Imo Singh, Writer, Director and Film producer had completed the Film Direction Course from Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and was a visiting faculty there from 2006 to 2015. He won the National Film Award for the Best Short Fiction Film for Punravritti 1992.

The Film was selected as one of the best 30 Films in the world at the 2nd International Film Festival for Cinema Students, Tokyo, Japan 1992-93. It also got selected for the 17th International Henri Langlois Encounters Poitiers, France, 1992-93. Shri Oinam Doren is a Director, Producer and Cinematographer.

A former television producer, his films have been screened at a number of international film festivals and have won various state and international awards. His Documentary songs of Mashangva won two National Awards 2010, 2015. The pride for the Manipuris in this Festival is that Shri Oinam Doren Singh became Chairman of the Jury for the Non Feature Film.

In this festival the film, Beyond Blast was included in the Indian Panorama (Non Feature). The film was directed by Saikhom Ratan and its Producer was Konjengbam Sushila Leima. Saikhom Ratan, Director is an award winning video journalist and well-known contemporary Filmmaker. His films My Cousin's Village, Beyond Blast, SOS and have won many accolades.

The Manipuri Cinema was fortunate in this International Festival because 10 (ten) films consisting of 5 (five) Feature Films and 5 (five) Non Feature Films were screened by opening with a session in connection with the celebration of 50th Year Manipuri Cinema as a part of Golden Cinema of Manipur.

The 50th Year Manipuri Cinema was inaugurated with the screened of Ishanou Film directed by Syam Sharma, Shri Sharma is a National and International award Winning Director. Many renowned Manipuri Cinema personalities had participated in that inaugural function.

Mention may be made of the following names :
B. Sanzu Sharma, Secretary of Manipur State Film Development Society,
L. Surjakanta Sharma, Chairman of Film Forum Manipur,
Lamja Tomba, the leading actor of the Film Ishanou,
Oken Amakcham, Director of the Non Feature Film,
Ratan Thiyam, the Man of Theatre.

The Screen of that Non Feature Film was held with the screening of this film. In this regard Shri Oken Amakcham was honoured by presenting a Shawl and one Memento before the screen shots of the films. Oken Amakcham's films have been featured in Indian Panorama and have won National award.

Shri B. Sanzu said every year the 9th April has been Celebrated as the birth of Manipuri Cinema since the first Manipuri feature film by the name of MATAMGI MANIPUR was released on 9th April. This is also one of the films that will be screened in the Special Segment Celebration of Manipuri Cinema and it was a long cherished dream that has been realized.

He thanked Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and National Film Development Co- operation for the support and the healthy relationship between the organisation. Shri Ravindar Bhakar, Managing Director, National Film Development Co-operation had given a valuable speech in connection with the journey of Manipuri Cinema.

To be continued....