North East India Film Festival 2024

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 21^st 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 3^rd 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 1^st January to 31^st 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

2. Nellier Kotha – The Nellie Story- Assamese
   Directed by – Parthajit Baruah

3. Kuhipator Rang – The Colour of Spring – Assamese
   Directed by – Nav K Nath

4. Rimdogittanga – Rapture – Garo(Meghalaya)
   Directed by – Dominic Sangma

5. Samarpan – Surrender – Assamese
   Directed by – Arup Manna

6. Joseph’s Son – Manipuri
   Directed by – Haobam Paban Kumar

7. Before Spring – Assamese
   Directed by – Shrutismriti Changkakoti

8. 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/-

2. Best Direction: Haobam PabanKumar,
                             Film: Joseph’s Son
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs.50,000/-

3. Best Cinematography: Jayant Sethu Nath, Film: Before Spring
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

4. Best Screenplay: Parthajit Baruah, Film: Nellier Kotha
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

5. Best Editing: Kuldip Baruah, Film: Samarpam
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

6. Best Sound: Amrit Pritam, Debajit Changmai, Film: Gorai Phakhri
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 40,000/-

7. Special Jury award: Film- Before Spring, Director: Shrutismriti Changkakoti
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate, Cash of Rs. 30,000/-

8. Special Mention Award: Film-Ata Nirjon Duporiya, Director:Khanjan Kishore Nath
   Awards: Shwal, Statuette, Certificate.

9. 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 7^th March, 2024 the awards were distributed to the winners.

THOUNA has now started preparation for organizing the 2^nd North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2025 tentatively from 9 to 15 February, 2025 at three venues.

Sd/-
(Y. Nilachandra Singh)
President
THOUNA, Manipur