"Joseph's Son" receives Special Jury Award at KIFF
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 12 2023: Acclaimed filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar's third feature film, "Joseph's Son," secured the Special Jury Award at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) 2023.The prestigious award was presented during the closing ceremony held on Tuesday.

"Joseph's Son" had its world premiere at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival earlier this year, garnering attention for its compelling narrative.

The film is also set to be showcased at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala 2023 from December 8 to 15 at Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian Cinema Now section.

This selection includes six other films chosen by a panel of jury members, as announced in a statement by Meghachandra Kongbam, President of the Film Society of Manipur.

The film narrates the emotional tale of a young teenager, who goes missing in Manipur amid ethnic conflicts and insurgency.

Joseph, the father, embarks on a heartfelt journey in search of his football-enthusiast son.

As Joseph traverses the challenging terrain, his apprehension deepens, grappling with the constant uncertainty of past and present.

The narrative takes a shocking turn when he is called upon by the police to identify an unidentified body in the morgue, adding a personal vacuum to his already arduous journey.

Renowned folk singer Guru Rewben Mashangva takes on the central role in the film, adapting the short story "Joseph ki Macha" written by Sahitya Akademi awardee Sudhir Naoroibam.

Both Sudhir and Paban collaborated in crafting the screenplay for this emotionally charged narrative.

Reflecting on the film, Haobam Paban Kumar expressed, "My film might be among the few Indian films to address the ethnic and armed conflict unique to my birthplace, Manipur, a state in Northeast India bordering Myanmar.

As a storyteller, it is essential that my films mirror my contemporary realities.

Manipur is home to the majority community Meeteis and 35 different tribes, each with its own language, culture, and traditions".

Haobam Paban Kumar has emerged as a prominent voice from the restive northeastern state of Manipur, engaging in both non-Action and Action storytelling.

His film '"AFSPA 1958" received the Golden Lotus for the Best Documentary at the 56th National Film Awards in 2008.Additionally, "A Cry in the Dark" was screened at the 31st Toronto Film Festival in 2006 and MOMA New York in 2007.Transitioning from documentary Almmaking, he gained critical acclaim for his feature film "Loktak Lairembee (Lady of the Lake)," featured at the 67th Berlin Film Festival in 2017 and the 21st Busan International Film Festival in 2016 .

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