A 15-day multilingual film festival was launched at the palace auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) in Imphal East on Thursday.
The festival is part of the concluding event of the ongoing yearlong Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manipuri Cinema which will culminate on April 29, MSFDS stated in a release issued by its secretary.
It stated that the rare festival, screening films from the celluloid, VHS and digital eras was opened by Bobo Khuraijam’s Ima Sabitri as the opening non-feature section and Ojitbabu Ningthojam’s Larei Lathup, the film that was adjudged the Best Popular feature film at the 14th Manipur State Film Festival 2022 as the opening feature film section.
Eminent filmmaker Padmashri Aribam Syam Sharma, MSFDS Lifetime Achievement awardees and senior actors Kangabam Tomba and Yengkhom Roma attended the opening ceremony of the festival as chief guest, guest of honour and president respectively, it stated.
As many as 32 feature films, 12 documentaries and 9 short films encompassing several local dialects spoken in Manipur will be screened during the festival, it further stated. Some of the landmark films like Brojendro gi Luhongba, Jahera, Khonthang, Mantri Dolansana, Phijigee Mani, AFSPA 1958 and Pebet etc. are to be screened during the festival.
Moreover, three dialect films each of Tangkhul, Zeliangrong and Thadou Kuki will also be screened, making the festival inclusive in all its aspects, it added.
It also announced that a full length animation feature film based on the folktale ‘Keibu Keioiba’ and children film ‘Paari’ directed by renowned filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma will be the special attraction especially for the children.
The festival also features a series of interactive talks by Aribam Syam Sharma on aspects of film direction, music direction and on directing the actors, besides a five-day documentary project development workshop ‘Documentor, it mentioned.
MSFDS also appealed to all the people to attend the festival and grab the opportunity to watch timeless Manipuri films.
