Decks clear for 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 16, 2013:
The 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival (IISFF) is all set to commence from March 24 to 28 next under the joint aegis of Legend Studio Manipur and Action for Social Advancement (ASA), Manipur with the support of Film Forum Manipur at the Hall of College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroishemba.
Recognized as a major film event in North East India, the 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival will once again showcase a host of quality movies from around the world in the presence of prominent guests and cine enthusiasts.
Mohen Naorem, Director of the much hyped Manipuri film "My Japanese Niece" and also the Festival Director, said that the 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival (IISFF) 2013 will showcase a wide range of quality movies from around the world on various themes including including social issues, public service messages, love, horror and experimental.
The festival will feature more than 150 films from more than 12 countries like Japan, Korea, Iran, Bangladesh, Philippines, Russia, Georgia, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Italy, UK, USA, etc.
Around 120 foreign films and 75 regional films will be screened during the five-day long film extravaganza.
Around 20 filmmakers from Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi are expected to attend the event, he said.
Mohen further informed that IISFF is an attempt at bringing the best in shorts from around the world to Indian audiences, showcasing a genre of movies which generally is inaccessible to the mainstream audience.
It is also a platform for Indian filmmakers to reach out to a larger audience.
For this year's edition of the film festival, so far, a number of entries from regional Indian languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, etc and even silent films have started receiving.
"We have received a tremendous opening with entries pouring in from various parts of the globe as well as from Indian participants including from renowned institutes like Whistling Woods International and others," he added.
To be independently adjudged by a panel of renowned Jury members, the festival will have a competition section offering total prize money of close to Rs 2, 00,000 in 17 award categories along with citations, medals and certificates of participation, he added.
Furthermore, he informed that keeping the centenary year of Indian cinema in mind, the organiser plans to have an Indian film as the Inaugural and opening film.
"This is a small gesture on our part as a token of gratitude to the founders of Indian cinema", Mohen said.