Itanagar: The two-day Arunachal Film Festival got underway at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre here on Thursday, with Advisor, Information and Public Relations Department, Laisam Simai (MLA) inaugurating the calendar event in the presence of noted movie director Ashan Muzid and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Simai said that the Arunachal Film Festival is an initiative of the state government to give a platform to the state’s indigenous filmmakers and budding talents to meet together, discuss ideas, and showcase their movies.
He said that Arunachal Pradesh is rapidly growing in all fields, including the filmmaking arena, as there are many award-winning films produced by young directors in the state. With the diverse cultures & traditions of various tribes in Arunachal Pradesh and the natural beauty of the land, the lawmaker said, our state has lots of scope in this sector, while adding that the shooting of many Bollywood movies like Koyla, Bhediya, etc. in the state is testimony to our scenic beauty.
Simai further said that besides exposure to the state, films also facilitate protecting and preserving our culture and identity from the intrusion of modernization. Filmmaking, he said, is one part of preserving identity through documentation, and he encouraged interested youths to take up this form of entrepreneurship.
Simai also thanked the state’s pioneers of filmmaking, who showed and brought the art here.
Ahsan Muzid, director of the movie ‘Sonam’ (The Fortunate One), recalled the journey of making his first feature film, Sonam, in Arunachal and the difficulties and adventures they faced during that time. Getting nostalgic, Muzzid elaborated on the challenges faced during the shooting of the film at Dirang in 2005-06. He expressed his gratitude to former Chief Ministers Mukut Mithi and the late Dorjee Khandu, who supported them both financially and morally. He also appreciated the growth in the number of youths who are now interested in filmmaking.
The opening day had two workshops: ‘Screen Acting’ by Palin Kabak of Bhediya fame and ‘Cinematography’ by Nyago Ete, who was also in a Bhediya movie. The workshops saw the attendance of more than 50 youths.
‘Sonam’ movie by Ahsan Muzid, which is an adaptation of Padmashree awardee YD Thongchi’s book of the same name, ‘Missing (The Apparition)’ by Dr Sarma Barua, and ‘Nana (A Tale of Us)’ by Tiakumzuk Aier were screened on the first day.
The second day will see the screening of movies like ‘The Tainted Mirror’ by Romi Meitei and ‘In the Land of the Poison Women’ by Manju Baruah.
