NEW DELHI: The 44th International Film Festival of India, starting from November 20, will for the first time feature a section on films from the North East which will be inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma.
This was informed by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Manish Tewari here on Thursday.
As many as 19 films from the North East will exhibit the immense ethnic, traditional and cultural diversity of the region and cultural and aesthetic elements like dance and music shows, exhibition of fabric, handicrafts, cuisine and panel discussion on emerging crafts will also feature in the event, Tewari said.
The 44th International Film Festival of India will be held in Goa from November 20-30.
“This time we are giving special focus on North East since the region has made some good films and attracted many film makers and actors,” he said while announcing the schedule of the conference.
This special section has been created by award winning film personality of the region Utpal Borpujari some of whose films have made waves both at home and abroad.
Manipur’s legendary filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma’s Manipuri Pony will represent the State in the Festival. Among others, Patricia Mukhim, editor, The Shillong Times, Jahnu Barua, Aribam Shyam Sharma (both film makers). Seema Biswas, Adil Hussain (both actors) and Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi (writer) will attend the festival.
The festival will feature some of the rare films like Assamese films Joymoti of Late Jyotiprasad Agrawal and Aideu of Arup Mana.
The North East section will open with a Mizo film Khwalung Run by Mapuia Chawngthu and end with Aideu.
Alongside the festival, the NDFC Film Bazaar 2013 will also kick off in Goa on the same day. Further, the International Children’s Film Festival of India (ICFFI) will also take off on Children’s Day, November 14, in Hyderabad. Around 200 films from 48 countries will be showcased at the children’s film festival, also known as The Golden Elephant.