Manipuri filmmaker Sonia Nepram, who is also an executive board member of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) is making waves at the 74th Berlinale in Germany, renowned as the Berlin International Film Festival.
Sonia’s participation in the film festival which kicked off on Thursday is on an official invitation extended by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany through its Visitors Programme, stated a release. The festival, with its politically charged history, serving as a platform for intercultural exchange and critical exploration of societal issues will continue till February 22, it stated.
Beyond the prospect of mingling with global cinema luminaries, like Martin Scorsese who will be honored with Honorary Golden Bear for his lifetime achievement, Sonia is set to gain firsthand insights into Germany and its vibrant culture, it asserted. Her role as an MSFDS executive board member and her Berlinale participation align to elevate Manipur's film culture on the global stage, it said.
It also stated that her participation in the Berlin International Film Festival holds special significance as MSFDS is gearing up for the 2nd edition of Manipur's International Film Festival, the 'Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival' (EIIFF) scheduled to be held in late 2024.
The first edition of EIIFF, inaugurated during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manipur Cinema in 2022, showcased films from various countries like Iran, Germany, the Philippines, Norway, Ukraine, and South Korea, it mentioned and added that the upcoming edition aims for grandeur and competitiveness.
It also highlighted her Berlinale itinerary featuring visits to prominent institutions like Deutsche Kinemathek-Museum für Film und Fernsehen German Film Archive, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, and discussions on film financing and location promotion.
It further briefed her journey in the world of documentary filmmaking, mentioning some of her documentaries including ‘Gun and a God’ (2013), which explored the impact of armed conflict on women's lives and ‘Bloody Phanek’ (2017), which received funding from the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone), South Korea. Bloody Phanek made its world premiere at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, earning praise for its exploration of the cultural, personal, and political aspects of the Phanek, the traditional attire of Manipuri women, it noted.
Established in 1951, Berlin International Film Festival, ranks among the world's leading film festivals, showcasing a wide spectrum of international and national films, it added.
