7th Manipuri Film Festival 2010 kicks off in Imphal

IMPHAL - The 7th Manipuri Film Festival 2010 commenced here on Saturday, as the Manipur Governor, Gurbachan Jagat inaugurated the gala event.

Also present on the occasion was eminent filmmaker Aribam and Shyam Sharma who wished a wide exposure to the movies from the northeast.

This is the first time where video films have been allowed to take part since earlier all the entries were in celluloid version.

“”In the last many years that is upto the sixth Manipur state film festival all the entries were mostly of celluloid films. But after six film festivals we did not have more celluloid films due to financial problems. At the same time you know there was a full gap when the celluloid films could not be produced enough in number. The filmmakers have increased the make of low budget digital films. As you know Manipur is the land of the culture and the filmmakers are very much aware of filming many aspects,” said K Sobita Devi, Director of Manipur Film Development Corporation.

Only one celluloid feature film titled ‘Yenning Amadi Likla’ and 13 video feature films were chosen out of total entry of 77 feature films including the video versions.

Among the selected films are ‘Khangdreda Nongdamba’, ‘Tayai’, ‘Poukhum’, ‘Novab’, ‘Bomb Blast’, ‘Naoshum’, ‘Kaboklei’, ‘Ingao Ngouna’, ‘Basanta-gi Nonganlamdaida’, ‘Mami Sami’, ‘Chumthang Makhong’, ‘Hayengna Kanna-ga Pagani’ and ‘Ningthem’.

Another 15 non-feature digital films and one celluloid film have also been recommneded for the five critic and book awards.

A hallmark of this year’s event is a photo exhibition on journey of Manipuri cinema.

“I have seen more or less 90 percent of the films, which is so far in digital format. And there are some good films of course. All are good but there are some films which have got upto the mark,” said Romi Meitei, a film director.

An open forum on different films related issues including journey of Manipuri cinema from celluloid to video, film prospects, film music in Manipuri cinema, original film script and screenplay, importance of non-feature films and audience was organised during the course of the festival with different film personalities and experts.

The eight-day film festival would continue till September 20. (ANI)