The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) on Wednesday announced that it has selected five individuals for partial sponsorship to attend the upcoming 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
The chosen applicants, spanning various roles in the film and media industry, are senior journalist Pradip Phanjoubam, screenwriter Binoranjan Oinam, director OC Meira, film promoter Premjit Naoroibam and cinematographer Kangjam Ronelchandra Meitei, stated a release.
Of these selections, Pradip Phanjoubam, the sole representative from Manipur’s press, is mandated to cover the prestigious event and film bazaar for the state, it stated. While the other four candidates, recognised by the Selection Committee for their dedication and vision for participation in IFFI, form a specially selected film team aimed at exposure to global cinema trends, it asserted.
The allocated sponsorship fund of Rs 1 lakh will facilitate the travel expenses and lodging for the selected individuals during the festival, it mentioned.
Manipur’s ‘Andro Dreams’, directed by Meena Longjam, will open the Indian Panorama Section in the Non-Feature category, a film incubated and developed at the ‘Imphal Documentor’, a project lab organised by MSFDS in collaboration with Documentary Resource Initiative (DRI), Kolkata, it stated.
Further enhancing Manipur’s cinematic significance, the panel of juries for the Indian Panorama included critically acclaimed filmmaker Romi Meitei and Swarna Kamal awarded film book writer and filmmaker Bobby Wahengbam, the release said.
It also highlighted the state’s two projects showcased at the National Film Development Corporation’s (NFDC) Film Bazaar, a feature film project titled ‘Sunita- The Leading Light’ by Manipuri filmmaker Ajit Yumnam and a documentary project named ‘Reincarnation’ by Bobo Khuraijam.
Such remarkable presence at the IFFI and the Film Bazaar underscores Manipur’s thriving creativity and diversity in both feature and documentary cinema projects, solidifying its place on the vibrant Indian film landscape, it added.