New Delhi, September 26: After having a successful world premiere of his latest 52-minute documentary film "A cry in the dark� at the 31st Toronto International Film Festival 2006 from September 7 to 16, the film director Haobam Paban Kumar did not even get time to go back home as he was already on his way to Egypt for the 10th Ismailia International Film Festival 2006 held from September 15 to 22.
Haobam Paban receiving an award at the Ismalia Film Fest

"This leading competitive festival for documentary and short films in the Arab world had 39 foreign countries and other Arabic countries competing for the awards�, says Paban Kumar who landed here from Egypt on Sunday last.

To Paban Kumar's surprise his 77-minute documentary film AFSPA, 1958 which was one of India's two entries in the 10th Ismailia International Film Festival went on to bag three awards.

Paban Kumar said, "Winning three awards was a record at the Festival's history�.

The film won the Jury Award in the long documentary category, Special Mention by the Egyptian Cinema Critics Association as an Outstanding Film and ACT (Appropriate Communication Techniques and Developments) Prize for the Best Film that deals with women problems, subjects, concerns and rights.

AFSPA, 1958 which candidly captures a series of realities in the aftermath of the killing of Manorama by Assam Rifles had already bagged two International Awards in the Mumbai International Film Festival of Documentaries, Short and Animation Films organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India this year and a National Award in the SIGNS 2006-the Festival of Documentaries and Short Films in Video organized by Federation of Film Societies of India, South West Region in Thiruvananthapurum recently.

The film AFSPA, 1958 directed by Paban Kumar is produced by BM Sunzu who himself is also an independent filmmaker.

Saikhom Ratan is the cameraman and Sankha is the editor.

The Director said, "I never expected the awards as the festival had very good films.

I had been very touched by the films from Arab World and the courage of its filmmakers.

I was very happy that the film has won not one but three awards.� At the Toronto International Film Festival, Paban Kumar's latest film had its world premiere.

The film was screened in the Real to Reel Section of the Festival.

Out of five films selected from India for this prestigious festival, Paban Kumar's film was the only documentary film from India entered in the festival and the first Manipuri film to have a world premiere outside India.

In the festival, the Film had three screenings" one for the press and film industry and two screenings for the public.

Paban Kumar said, "I thought that nobody would turn up for his film as there was a big Hollywood presence at the festival.

But to my surprise the hall was almost full in both the public screenings.� There was a question and answer session with the audience after every screening, which he said, was extremely exciting as nobody heard about Manipur before.

Paban Kumar is now busy in the completion of his celluloid venture" a short film based on the story Ngahak Lambida (Along the way) written by M.K.Binodini.

Shenad Jalan is the cameraman, Prasun Sengupta is the sound recordist and Sankha is the editor.

The Satyajit Ray Film and TV Institute, Kolkata is the producer.

Kangabam Tomba and Seema are in the cast.

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