Imphal: The 53rd edition of IFFI, to be held from November 20-28, 2022 in Goa, will feature a special section on Manipuri Cinema in honour of its golden jubilee year.
This was confirmed to the Secretary, Manipur State Film Development Society, MSFDS, by Ravinder Bhakar, managing director, National Film Development Corporation, NFDC, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India on November 8, 2022.
Even though the I&B ministry wanted a Manipuri Cinema package of 2-3 Manipuri feature films maximum, MSFDS persuaded the ministry to at least allow it to curate 10 films to make a respectable package to represent the 50 years journey of Manipuri Cinema.
Thus the IFFI special Golden Jubilee Manipuri Cinema package consists of 5 feature films and 5 non-feature films, including landmark Manipuri films like ‘Matamgee Manipur’, the first Manipuri feature film, released on April 9, 1972, SN Chand Sajati’s ‘Brojendragee Luhongba’, the first feature film directed by a Manipuri director, Aribam Syam Sharma’s ‘Ishanou’, Manipur’s most critically acclaimed feature film Gautam Oinam’s ‘Phijigi Mani’, the first Manipur video feature film to earn an official Indian Panorama Selection and Haobam Paban Kumar’s ‘Loktak Leirembi’, the first Manipuri digital feature film.
Among the non-features to be screened at the prestigious international film festival are Oken Amakcham’s ‘Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theatre’, Ningthouja Lancha’s ‘Ilisa Amagi Mahao’, Borun Thokchom’s ‘The Silent Poet’, Romi Meitei’s ‘The Tainted Mirror’ and Ashok Veilou’s ‘Look at the Sky’.
Even though it is unfortunate that the Manipuri Cinema package to be featured at IFFI is not as comprehensive as desired, nevertheless it is a worthy platform given to Manipuri Cinema, clinched as a result of the persuasion of the film community of Manipur.
Befittingly, the ministry of I&B would host as its guest all of the participating film directors, while MSFDS would sponsor their travels to Goa and back, said a press note from the Secretary, MSFDS.
