Imphal: In a significant achievement for Manipur University’s Department of Mass Communication, a documentary film produced as part of its academic curriculum has been selected for the Short Documentary Competition Section of the prestigious International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).
Titled Khongjomnubi, the documentary was directed by a team of students from the 2023–2025 batch of the Department of Mass Communication as part of the department’s documentary film production curriculum. The film has earned a place in the competitive section of the festival, where it will be screened alongside works by established documentary filmmakers from across the country.
IDSFFK is organised by the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, Government of Kerala, and is recognised as a prestigious platform for documentary and short-film practices in India. The selection of Khongjomnubi marks a notable achievement not only for the student filmmakers but also for the Department of Mass Communication and Manipur University.
The documentary is directed by Laimujam Johnson Meitei, Shelly Kshetrimayum, Khwairakpam Sharonz Devi, Johnson Sorokhaibam and Ngangom Nikita. The project was supervised by Dr. Meenakumari Angom, Assistant Professor and Dr. Johnson Rajkumar, Guest Faculty, of the Department of Mass Communication. Developed as a practical academic project, the film demonstrates the department’s emphasis on hands-on training and documentary practice as an integral component of its curriculum.
Khongjomnubi tells the story of Ibemhal, a veteran athlete, focusing on her life, struggles and resilience. The film explores the multiple roles she negotiates in her everyday life, as a mother, an athlete, and a vegetable seller. Through her personal story, the documentary presents a portrait of determination, labour and resilience.
The selection assumes particular significance as the film moves from an academic production to a national-level competitive platform, where it will compete alongside documentaries made by filmmakers from across India.
Representing the directors’ team at the festival, Laimujam Johnson Meitei is scheduled to travel to Thiruvananthapuram to attend the festival and represent Khongjomnubi at the international film festival platform.
The achievement highlights the potential of student filmmaking emerging from Manipur University and underscores the role of the Department of Mass Communication in providing students with opportunities to engage with professional filmmaking practices and national and international film platforms.
