Newmai News Network Imphal | December 17 The three-day long first State Level Tribal Film Festival kicked started today at the auditorium of Tribal Research Institute (TRI) in Imphal, organised by State Level Tribal Film Festival Committee, Manipur under the theme ‘Striving for Excellence’. Former Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, MK Preshow Shimray graced the occasion as the chief guest, while social worker Thangjamang Haokip attended the event as guest of honour in the opening ceremony. Giving the welcome and keynote addresses, Organising Committee chairman Dr Gairiangmei said the primary objective of the tribal film festival is to secure unity and peace among different communities in the state through films. Without peace, Dr Gairiangmei stated, nothing can flourish. According to him, poverty, violence, conflict and other forms of tension are still part of tribal life. “Therefore, tribal films and performing arts are still at the nascent stage. The film producers must work hard and should strive for greater heights,” Gairiangmei added. The Chairman of the Organising Committee then said that the festival also aims to provide common platform to tribal film makers, producers, directors and artists who involve in the film making on various aspects of customs, traditions and culture along with the modernised ways of tribal life. Former Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, MK Preshow Shimray meanwhile pointed out that tribal peoples are talented in the fields of singing, dancing and speaking. “This kind of festival will definitely push up smaller communities which provide opportunity to showcase their hidden talents,” Preshow added. He also said many young talented artists can take advantage of the festival and make a strong society by motivating and educating the people on what directors and producers want to give the message to the public through films. “Even though we have rich culture and folklores we are yet to explore and preserve,” Preshow said. He appealed to the people in the film industry to record the rich tribal heritage and also the tribal film directors and producers to focus on the tribal folklores so that the world community will come to know of the rich heritage of the tribal people. He appealed the organisers to hold such festival in bigger way to encourage each other in the field of film, art, culture, dance and song. Also speaking on the occasion, social worker Thangjamang Haokip said that the socio-economic, tradition and culture are reflected in the film. According to him, film is one of the most powerful media for mass communication. “Through this medium we can tell the stories of the rich culture, tradition, distinctive characters of tribal life and share the type of narratives that shifts the perception of how the world view the tribal people,” he added. On the occasion, noted singers Guru Rewben Mashangva and Thangmeiso presented songs. The first and second day of the festival will be held at TRI, while closing ceremony will be held at Amity Hall, Adimjati.