Saikhom Ratan’s Beyond Blast, a Manipuri non-feature film, has been selected to be screened at the Indian Panorama of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2022.
The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) said in a release that the 52-minute-long documentary film Beyond Blast based on the life of Konthoujam Maikel Meitei, who is a bomb blast victim, has been selected as a part of the Indian Panorama Official Selection.
As the Indian Panorama is a flagship component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the selection has paved the way for the documentary film to be screened at the 53rd IFFI 2022, to be held from November 20 to 28 in Goa, it added.
“Of 242 non-feature films that competed for the national selection, only 20 made it to the list. And from Northeast India, only two made the cut namely Saikhom Ratan’s ‘Beyond Blast’ (Manipur) and Kripal Kalita’s ‘Hatibondhu’ (Assam),” it said.
It maintained that Beyond Blast director Saikhom Ratan is an award winning freelance video journalist and a well-known Manipuri cinematographer and filmmaker and the producer of the film Konjengbam Sushila Leima is a prolific writer and a film producer.
Beyond Blast is Sushila’s second film that made it to the Indian Panorama Official Selection as her Eigi Kona, a Manipuri feature film which made the cut in the 52nd IFFI 2021, it stated.
It also stated that Manipuri filmmaker Oinam Doren is heading the jury of the non-feature film of the Indian Panorama as the chairperson which comprises five other members.
MSFDS congratulated Saikhom Ratan, K Sushila Leima and Oinam Doren for bringing glory for Manipuri Cinema and making the state proud, it continued.
Beyond Blast won several awards at different prestigious film festivals, including the Best Documentary Film in Social Issues at the 14th Manipur State Film Awards 2022 organized by MSFDS under the Directorate of Art and Culture; Official Selection at Sign International Film Festival Kerala, 2022; and official Selection at 13th Film South Asia (FSA), Nepal.
It was also awarded the Best Documentary (India) in Port Blair International Film Festival; Best Documentary (India) at Filmshor International film festival Kerala 2021 along with Honourable Mention award in Reels International film festival 2021 Aurangabad, the release added.
