First NE Film Festival from March 3
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 20 2024:
The 1st edition of the North East India Film Festival will be held from March 3 to 7 here with eight films from the region including 'Joseph's Son' of Manipur set for screening.
Addressing the media at the DIPR conference hall, here, on Tuesday, chairman Y Nilachandra said that the organising committee received 13 entries, out of which the preview committee selected eight - six Assamese, one Manipuri and one Garo.
Informing that the films will be screened at the MSFDS auditorium, Palace Compound and Tanthapolis, Lamphel Sana Keithel, he said many established filmmakers of the region would also be attending the festival.
According to Festival director Bobby Wahengbam, hosting the first edition of the festival is a matter of pride for the state.
There is no entry fee for the festival and it was not an easy task to curate the entries as they all deserve a place in the festival, he said.
Chipping in Preview Committee chairman Oken Amakcham said that there would be master classes as part of the festival with two jury members from other states and one from Manipur.
The festival would have cash awards in eight categories -Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Special Jury Award among others.
DIPR, Art and Culture Department and MSFDS are also extending support in organising the festival.
The entries are limited to films, which cleared censorship during January 1 2023 and December 31, 2023, he said.
DIPR joint director T Ramesh, who was also present at the press conference, said that Manipuri feature film 'Joseph's Son' of Haobam Paban Kumar is among the eight films selected for the festival from 13 entries received.
He appealed to the people of the state not to view the him festival just as an event of festivity but as an academic event.
Students of mass communications and those pursuing career in the industry will have opportunities to watch the films, learn from them, and interact with the experts during the festival, he added.