The first ever three-day Tribal Film Festival under the theme ‘Fostering Cultural Renaissance through Art and Entertainment kicked off’ at Mini Stadium Apollo ground in Tamenglong district headquarters on Thursday.
The three-day festival is being organised by Hornbill entertainment. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India with support from DIPR Manipur. The festival is to be continued till Saturday.
The inaugural session was attended by Noney deputy commissioner Joseph Pauline, ADC chief executive officer Kachamthai Faiga Gangmei, Relief and Disaster Management director Daigong Gangmei, SDO Tousem Paul Nangsha, social worker Adai Phaomei as chief guest and guests of honours.
Speaking as the chief guest, Joseph Pauline congratulated the organisers and exhorted the tribal filmmakers to promote tribal culture and educate the masses like the Koreans do about their culture in Korean films. Films are not only entertainment but educate or teach the viewers, he added.
ADC Tamenglong, chief executive officer Kachamthai Faiga Gangmei said that organizing the film festival was a historic moment for Tamenglong.
He recalled how the first Rongmei film ‘Lubuanei’ was made with many difficulties and challenges some 30 years ago. Many more films are coming up now, and the public needs to support all the artistes and also promote the tribal film festival, he added.
Tousem SDO Paul Nangsha also spoke on the occasion and suggested the artistes to make a film on Haipou Jadonang by drawing inspiration from hollywood movies like ‘Apocalypto’.
On the occasion, director Kachamthai Gonmei said that the festival aims to uplift the tribal film fraternity and also showcase their hidden talents by organising the festival.
The festival also aims to promote different artistes, he further said, adding, at least 30 tribal films would be screened during the festival.
He also thanked Ministry of Information and Broadcasting government of India Armstrong Pame for his efforts to successfully organise the festival.
Zeme Women performed Zeme traditional dance to open the festival. A traditional fire making was also performed during the event.
