Imphal: The Cine Dialogue on Monday stressed the aspects and importance of film archiving and restoration. The dialogue is being conducted as a regular feature of the ongoing golden jubilee celebration of Manipuri cinema that began on April 9.
Founder director of Film Heritage Foundation Shivendra Singh Dungarpur stated that people have a wrong conception that only celluloid films are lost. He said that digital films also get lost and added many consider cinema as just entertainment and not as an art form. This is one main reason the archiving and preservation process is somewhat delayed in many places across India.
He maintained that it is not possible to make good films without a proper understanding of the history of films in one’s place in particular and the world in general.
It may be mentioned that the Manipur State Film Development Society and Film Heritage Foundation recently signed an MoU to work together on preserving Manipur’s film heritage.
Later, ‘Mei Ekpa’ directed by Chaoba Thiyam and produced by Saikhom Ratan, Bloody Phanek by Sonia Nepram were screened. In the Northeast Focus section, Ma’ama by Dominik Sangma from Meghalaya and Nobap by Heisnam Tomba were shown. The screenings were followed by interactions with directors and producers of the films. While the festival entered its 4th day, there will be no screening or programmes on April 13 and 14 on account of Cheiraoba.
