Morung Express News
Itanagar | February 19
Filmmakers from the North East Region on Friday viewed that exchange of films among the eight states for screening, with the initiative of respective state governments, could help foster unity among the people of the region and bring the concept of ‘North East’ to reality.
At the same time, it will also help popularise the films of the region which largely remain overshadowed by the commercial film industries such as Hollywood and Bollywood.
This idea was articulated during a dynamic discussion on the topic, ‘Is there a cinema of the north east or a cinema of eight states’ and underlying issues on regional cinema, and of the concept of North East in the role of film making at the ongoing Film, Northeast 2016 festival at Annexe Lawns, IG Park, Itanagar.
Film, Northeast 2016, a festival of cinema was conceptualised and organized by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in partnership with Film Federation of Arunachal to promote an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of cinema in the North East Region.
Budding filmmakers assembled from the eight sister states also felt that for North East cinema to gain popularity, audience from the region should be the prior target.
Creating a market for films of North East among audience has been an impenetrable wall for filmmakers. Despite having a history of artistic success of film directors like Jahnu Barua from Assam and Aribam Syam Sharma from Manipur, whose films are internationally acclaimed, the cinema from the region has not managed to make a breakthrough on the national scene.
“It is very important to help each other. We need to start exchanging films of each state so that we understand and learn the cultures and social issues of this diverse region and foster unity,” Pradip Kurbah, a filmmaker from Meghalaya shared.
He highlighted how Meghalaya government was trying to connect with the local audience to popularize locally produced films by screening them in community halls in the rural areas.
According to DK Thoungun, a filmmaker from Arunachal Pradesh, sharing of films among the north eastern states can help strengthen the concept of ‘North East.’
“We did not create this concept of the ‘North East’...However since it already exists, we must strive to take advantage of this concept in uniting ourself,” Thoungun maintained.
Aribam Syam Sharma, one of the most accomplished filmmakers from India noted that the concept of ‘North East’ was created only on the basis of the mongoliod features of the people residing in the region. He also said stakeholders must convince the Government of India on the importance of films made in the North East.
Kivini Shohe, filmmaker from Nagaland said contemporary stories need to be told instead of stereotyped replay on North East. “People look at Nagaland and they think we are all the same head hunting tribes. It is far from true. And we are not gun toting people either. We are different. Go to the villages, there are stories of people struggling with spades and tools,” Shohe reflected.
Meena Longjam from Manipur noted that cinema has become a vital tool to portray art form - any kind of anguish, turmoil affecting the society and therefore have become an impact tool for youngsters.
“What is important is that we need to understand ourself as an identity, try to bridge the barrier of language and identity and create a kind of identity where all can call as North East,” was Thoungun’s suggestion.
Diversity of language has been regarded of as a barrier in the progress of filmmaking in many of the North Eastern states.
Thoungun however thought otherwise. “If we can understand Korean, why can’t we understand each other,” he quipped while illustrating the wave of Korean movies that have influenced the cinema culture of North East youth.
6 films from Nagaland competing in NE film festival
Morung Express News
Itanagar | February 19
Six films from Nagaland are competing in different segments at the Film, Northeast 2016 at Itanagar.
In the Chiaroscuro segment, which is officially nominated by the respective Information Public Relations (IPR) of each state, Nagaland IPR has nominated ‘Anishe-Flower Maiden’ which was directed by Kivine Shohe.
‘Oh My Soul,’ another film of Shohe is also competing under the Our Stories segment.
Tiakumzuk Aier’s film ‘The Wake Up Call’ is competing in the First Cut segment for debut directors. In the Our Stories segment, a film titled ‘Handmade Arts and Crafts in the Misty Mountains’ directed by Razousituo Pusa is also in competition.
‘Can you’ a short film directed by Bokavi Swu and ‘Story of a House’ by Sophy Lasuh and Sesino Yhoshu are competing in the Clapperboard segment. Award giving ceremony on the competition will be held on February 20, coinciding with the Arunachal Pradesh Statehood day.
