North East India Film Festival

The First North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2024 was organized by THOUNA Manipur under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, New Delhi and in association with Film Forum Manipur (FFM), the Department of Information & Public Relations and also Art & Culture, Government of Manipur. Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS),Imphal and TanthaPolis Cinema, Lamphel also joined hand for magnifying the Festival as screening partners. The amount sanctioned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India vide no.M-21019/20(i)/2023-DO(FF) dated 21st December 2023. was Rs.20,00,000/-(+1,00,000/-i.e, 5% NFDC fee) only. The main events of the Festival was inaugurated on 3rd March,2024 by the Honourable Governor of Manipur Ms Anusuiya Uikeyji as the Chief Guest. Shri Aribam Syan Sharma, the eminent film maker presided over the function and Prof.N.Rajmuhon Singh, Vice Chancellor DM University and M.Joy Singh(IAS) Commissioner, Government of Manipur graced as Guests of Honour.

NEIFF 2024 was a competitive Film Festival of feature film category of North East India produced and certified by CBFC during the period from 1st January to 31st December,2023 and the list of awards offering are:

  • Best Film, (ii) Best Director, (iii) Best Screenwriter, (iv) Best Cinematography, (v)Best Editing, (vi) Best Sound, (vii) Special Jury  and (viii) Special Mention.

The selected films for the festival out of the 13 entries were:

  1. Ata Nirjon Duporia – A mid day without a name- Assamese

   Directed by – Khanjan Kishore Nath

  1. Nellier Kotha – The Nellie Story- Assamese

   Directed by – Parthajit Baruah

  1. Kuhipator Rang – The Colour of Spring – Assamese

   Directed by – Nav K Nath

  1. Rimdogittanga – Rapture – Garo(Meghalaya)

   Directed by – Dominic Sangma

  1. Samarpan – Surrender – Assamese

                                              Directed by – Arup Manna

  1. Joseph’s Son – Manipuri

                                              Directed by – Haobam Paban Kumar

  1. Before Spring – Assamese

                                              Directed by – Shrutismriti Changkakoti

  1. Gorai Phakhri – Wild Swans – Bodo (Assam)

   Directed by – Rajni Basumatary.

The winners and awards are as below:

  1. Best Film: Rimdogittanga(Rapture)

Director:-Dominic Sangma

Producer: Xu Jianshang, Gunme R Marak

Awards: Shwals-2,Statuettes, Certificates, Cash of Rs.1,20,000/-

  1. Best Direction: Haobam PabanKumar, Film: Joseph’s Son

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs.50,000/-

  1. Best Cinematography: Jayant Sethu Nath, Film: Before Spring

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

  1. Best Screenplay: Parthajit Baruah, Film: Nellier Kotha

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

  1. Best Editing: Kuldip Baruah, Film: Samarpam

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

  1. Best Sound: Amrit Pritam, Debajit Changmai, Film: Gorai Phakhri

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

  1. Special Jury award: Film- Before Spring, Director: Shrutismriti Changkakoti

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 30,000/-

  1. Special Mention Award: Film-Ata Nirjon Duporiya, Director:Khanjan Kishore Nath

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate.

  1. Jury Award for Outstanding Performance: Rewben Mashangva, Film: Joseph’s Son.

Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate.

 NEIFF 2024, on the demand of many film lovers, further screened six films in the category of non-competition section called Spectrum. The films in the spectrum section were:- (1) Eikhoigi Yum(Our House), (2) SIANG(The Curse), (3) Peral Thingbol(Tree of Secrets),(4) Ka Chithi(The Letter), (5) Zingthanwo(Morning Star) and (6) Samkhok(Morung Bed).

On the closing function of the main events on 7th March, 2024 the awards were distributed to the winners.

THOUNA is now organizing the 2nd North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2025  from 12 to 16 February, 2025 at three venues.