Regional Film Festival North East-2016 begins
Itanagar
The four-day regional film festival -Film North East-2016, went off to a colourful start at IG Park here today with Governor J P Rajkhowa lighting the ceremonial lamp amid a large number of eminent film personalities of the region including cinema aficionados.
Calling young filmmakers of the region to market the unique culture, heritage and customs of the region to the outside world by producing good movies, the Governor urged them to refrain from producing cheap films for monetary benefits.
“The Northeast has abundant potential for cinema industry with a vast scope for good stories. We should take our own story so that the outside world could know the uniqueness of the region,” he said.
Referring to Arunachal, the Governor said the state has picked up the passion for making films with several young filmmakers producing several good films.
“Though the state government has initiated several measures for development of films in the state, but the irony is, there is a dearth adequate cinema halls, which dampen the spirit of filmmakers. I appeal to the richer section of the society to come up to aid the filmmakers by establishing multiplexes,” he said.
Reputed filmmaker from Manipur Aribam Shyam Sharma in his address called upon the participants to showcase the creativity potentials of Northeast to the outside world.
Doyen of Assamese film industry Jahnu Barua termed Arunachal as a virgin place in terms of storyline for producing films.
“Arunachal is a place very close to the hearts of Northeast filmmakers. We want that young filmmakers should not suffer the pains while making films, which we faced in the early days. We want them to shine,” Barua said.
Earlier, festival director Moji Riba gave an overview of the festival.
State Art and Culture Secretary Dani Sulu in his speech said films from the region could win hearts of many film lovers across the country and abroad.
In welcome address Film Federation of Arunachal (FFA) president Chopa Cheda said though the state was a late starter in film making, it has been gradually picking up momentum with various good movies being produced in the past few decades.
“The concept to organise the regional film festival in the state was conceived by former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and IPR Parliamentary Secretary Bamang Felix, to provide a platform for the upcoming filmmakers of the state so that they take up film making as a profession,” he said.
The event would also serve an opportunity to the young film makers to learn many innovative ideas in film making including shooting, sound recording, editing, cinematography and voice dubbing, Chopa said.
Altogether 75 films from across eight Northeast states would be screened during the festival cutting across genres in the competitive and non-competitive segments including shorts and films by debutante filmmakers.
