First IISFF-2012 in motion to whet cineasts' appetite
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 16 2012:
With the main objective of encouraging independent filmmakers and promoting their talents for making meaningful cinema, Action for Social Advancement (ASA), Manipur is all set to organise the first ever Imphal International Short Film Festival (IISFF)-2012 in partnership with Legend Studio, Manipur from April 15 to 18 next here at Imphal.
Supported by Film Forum, Manipur with Hueiyen Lanpao daily and two other online news portals, namely Films and TV World and The Manipur Journal, as official media partners, the event would witness screening of some of the world's best contemporary short films.
Announcing this at a press conference at Kwakeithel here today, Mohen Naorem, Secretary of ASA and also the Festival Director of IISFF-2012, said that the festival, which is to be organised under the theme "Explore, Enjoy and Share", would explore the hidden talents of the region and give an opportunity to the participating filmmakers to enjoy the regional theme and issues which would share for a better future.
Acknowledging the significant role that films play not only in educating the people but also in inspiring and promoting pertinent issues that confront the region, Mohen explained that the motive behind organizing the festival is to encourage independent filmmakers to make meaningful cinema.
He informed that around 30 plus short films from within and outside India would be screened during the festival.
Among them include 19 Indian entries and five International entries.
The International entries include films from Spain, Italy, USA and Great Britain.
The International entries are all award winning films like "The Cortege", "Dolls Factory", "Imaginary Friend Practical Manual" and "Because There Are Things You Never Forget", etc.
There are still other films from India and abroad which are yet to end their entries, he added.
The festival would showcase the world's best contemporary short films in this North Eastern part of the region and would present awards to nine different categories including Best Short Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Musical Score and three Special Mention (Critic Choice) films.
The awards would include cash prizes, trophy and citation.
The award for the Best Short Film would be a cash prize of Rs 25,000/- while the remaining awards would be Rs 15,000/- each, Mohen informed.
He further informed that submissions are open to all language films of all genres (fiction, animation, documentary, experimental, music video or other) from any nation of the world.
However, all non-English foreign films and regional Indian films must have English sub-titles.
The short films should not exceed beyond 30 minutes duration.
All the films would be evaluated in the same standard digital format; irrespective of the formats in which the film was originally shot.
Along with the copies of the films, three stills of the films and a 60 second promo should be sent for promotional activities.
Interested filmmakers may send their entries for the festival till March 31, 2012, Mohen added.
It is said that organizers of (IISFF)-2012 would also be organizing another film festival called "North East India Film Festival 2012, in November 2012 at Imphal.
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