The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), government of Manipur is all set to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Manipuri cinema from Friday onwards. The yearlong celebration will culminate on the same day in 2022.
The first Manipuri feature film ‘Matamgi Manipur’ was released on April 9, 1972, said secretary MSFDC Sunzu Bachaspatimayum in a press meet held at MSFDC mini theatre hall on Tuesday.
In association with Film Forum Manipur, MSFDS has been observing the day every year as the ‘Mami Numit’, he said. The MSFDS in its 6th board Meeting, chaired by its chairman, Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh, resolved to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Manipuri cinema on the said date, he added.
Accordingly, a celebration committee was constituted with 17 prominent film and media personalities, with the commissioner and director of art and culture, government of Manipur as the chairman and the vice-chairman, respectively, Sunzu said. The committee envisages the celebration as an event to encourage film practice in Manipur at all levels, thereby further advancing it to a sustainable growth, he said, adding the celebration is anticipated to amplify the local storytelling voices for global inspiration.
The celebration will kick off at the Palace Auditorium, MSFDS, Palace Gate, Imphal East on April 9, 2021. The chief minister will inaugurate the celebration. Main highlights of the celebration include unveiling of a memorial stone dedicated to Manipuri cine-workers and artists, inauguration of Manipur Cine Archive & Museum, Film Screenings, Cine-Dialogue and Workshop.
A specially curated package of Manipuri cinema from the last five decades will be screened at the Palace auditorium throughout the yearlong celebration in a phased manner. During the 8-day celebration starting from April 9, altogether nine Manipuri feature films, 15 short and documentaries films, while five feature films and three documentaries under the Northeast Focus section will be screened.
Fictions and non-fiction films made by the filmmakers of the Northeast will be screened under Northeast Focus section.
Internationally acclaimed Assamese filmmaker Rima Das and her film ‘Bulbul Can Sing’ is a special attraction. She will present the film and will also take part in the Cine-Dialogue. Other emerging filmmakers like Dominic Sangma of Meghalaya, Kivini Shohe and Yapangnaro Longkumer of Nagaland, Sange Dorjee of Arunachal Pradesh, and Dawa Lepcha of Sikkim along with their films are also added to the attraction.
The intent of this section is to interweave the diversity of the voices that the Northeast storytellers represent, said Sunzu.
He said cine-dialogue is also an important part of the first phase of the celebration. Cinema as an expressive art having abilities to progress human thoughts and worldviews, its practitioners will take the opportunity to deliberate on issues of pressing concern. It will also be joined by eminent scholars and social commentators of the state, he mentioned.
The year-long celebration will also include programmes and events such as Introspection of Manipuri Cinema, Comparative Studies of Manipuri Cinema, Masterclasses, Book Publication, District Level Film Festivals, Manipuri film screenings at different institutes and cities across the country, Film Quiz competitions for students, Film Sensitisation with basic skill training modules at schools and colleges, Mobile filmmaking competition, launching of the competitive annual Imphal International Film Festival and launching of Manipur Film Promotional Fund etc, he said.
The celebration will be held in strict adherence to the COVID-19 SOPs, he added.
