CELLO a Japanese film will open Second edition of Imphal International Short Film Festival 2013

Imphal, 22 March 2013

Festival Schedule here

Festival organiser Mohen Naorem announced the 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival (IISFF) 2013 that will share a common theme - including social issues, public service messages, love, horror and experimental.

To be held between 23 and 28 March in Imphal, the festival will feature 80 films from more than 12 countries like Japan, Korea, Iran, Bangladesh, Philippines, Russia, Georgia, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Italy, UK, USA etc. More than 200 foreign and regional films entries are received, out of which 150 films have been shortlisted. The venue will be at the Hall of College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal in Manipur. Around 20 filmmakers from Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi will attend the event.

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. This year, till now, the festival has received entries in varied regional Indian languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi and even Silent films.

To be independently adjudged by a panel of renowned Jury members, this festival has a competition section offering total prize money of close to Rs 200,000 in 17 award categories apart from a citation, medal and a certificate of participation.

Films worth to watch in the festival is CELLO - a Japanese short film starring Junichi Kajioka, Lead Actor of My Japanese Niece (produced and Directed by Mohen Naorem). After many years of separation two brothers decide to meet. On the way to London younger brother Yoshi died during nuclear meltdowns at a power plant in Fukushima. Older brother Hiro experiences a personal visit from his dead; Yoshi. The pair embark on a peculiar journey in which Hirosawa comes to terms with him abandoning his younger brother and the guilt for feeling responsible. As they journey further Hirosawa discovers that the life he has led since abandoning Yoshi has been insignificant and realises that the material objects and social status for which he has strived is irrelevant.

JUNE - This is the story of Viplab Majumder's Bengali short film. Silence speaks its own language. Sometimes it creates a void in people's life, sometimes it fills one. For June, a teenage prostitute in Bengal, silence was her voice as she often looked outside her window at the world that awaited her till death came knocking and promised her redemption.

Love at First Sight from UK - Have you ever struggled to get the attention of someone you adore from afar? Love at First Sight is the heart warming story of a lonely young man's increasingly creative attempts to attract the attention of the girl of his dreams. A gentle film of hope and optimism. It has premiered at Palm Springs and played at 18 international Film Festivals, winning 7 awards across Europe, Asia and the USA.

"It is marvellous to see that Imphal International Short Film Festival has grown over the past one year and is taken seriously amongst the well known filmmakers and institutes. With the theme line "The Big Picture in Shorts", IISFF 2013 event has begun accepting entries for the festival and is much talked about in independent film making circles and that amongst student film makers," says Mohen Naorem.

"Movies are a great way of communication breaking all stereotypes. We will strive and continue to have a grand repertoire of films this time too. In fact, 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." Naorem added.

In the core team meet held recently, Mohen Naorem unveiled the new look of the festival with a special logo depicting the Kangla Sha or the Manipuri Dragon which is the symbol or the National Emblem of the Meeteis.

Recognized as a major film event in the 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 the cine enthusiasts.

About Imphal International Short Film Festival: The 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival is organized by Legend Studio Manipur and Action for Social Advancement (ASA) Manipur with the support of Film Forum Manipur. www.imphalfilmfestival.org,