Imphal: Haobam Paban Kumar’s third narrative- Joseph’s Son will compete with other 11 films in the competition on Indian Language’s Films of the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival 2023 and will also feature as the Indian Premiere in the festival to be held from December 5 to 12, 2023. Kolkata International Film Festival is one of the major festivals in India accredited by the FIAPF (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films) i.e.International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
Other 11 films in the competition are Avni Ki Kismat directed by Shonet Anthony Barretto, Ozhuki Ozhuki Ozhuki by Sanjeev Sivan, Blue Sunshine by Samyuktha Vijayan,  Kherwal by Uttam Kamati, Valli by Manoj Shinde, Gorai Phakhri (Wild Swans) by Rajni Basumatary, Kandeelu The Ray Of Hope by K Yashoda Prakash, Samarpan (Surrender)byArup Manna, Onkara (The Ascension) by Unni KR,  Hemanter Aparanha (Autumn Afternoon) by Ashoke Viswanathan and A Boy Who Dreamt Of Electricity by Jigar Madanlal Nagda.Â
Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son tells the story of a young teen who has not returned home to Manipur, an area amidst ethnic conflicts and insurgency. His father Joseph sets out on a journey in search of his football enthusiast son. As Joseph travels, his fear grows deeper: a fear of constant uncertainty- past and present – to which a personal vacuum is added when he is asked to verify the unidentified body in the morgue by the police. It is a journey that no parent would like to take ever.
Rewben Mashangva, a renowned folk singer is the main protagonist of the film. The story is based on the short story- Joseph ki Macha penned by Sahitya Akademi awardee Sudhir Naoroibam. Both Sudhir Naoroibam and Haobam Paban Kumar do the screenplay. The film is produced by the NFDC and Oli Pictures.
At IFFK 2023
Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son will also feature at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala 2023 in the Indian Cinema Now section along with six other films which were selected by a panel of jury. The festival will be held from December 8 to 15 at Thiruvananthapuram.
Haobam Paban Kumar is a prominent voice emitting out of the restive northeastern state of Manipur, India dabbling in both nonfiction and fiction storytelling. His film AFSPA 1958 was awarded the Golden Lotus for the Best Documentary at the 56th National Film Awards 2008. A Cry In The Dark is another film screened at the 31st Toronto Film Festival 2006 and MOMA New York 2007.
After nearly a decade of documentary filmmaking, he made his critically acclaimed feature film Loktak Lairembee (Lady of the Lake) which featured at the 67th Berlin Film Festival 2017 and the 21st Busan International Film Festival 2016. His second narrative feature in Manipuri and Tangkhul language Nine Hills One Valley had its world premiere at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival in Indonesia.
Haobam Paban Kumar is one of the leading independent filmmakers of India who was honoured with the title – Legend of Indian Cinema by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in the 50th International Film Festival of India 2019.
