The Children’s Film Society India (CFSI) recently held a film bonanza in Meghalaya that started from Tura in West Garo Hills and travelled to Ampati in South West Garo Hills and Williamnagar in East Garo Hills. CFSI CEO Shravan Kumar says about the journey to the North East, paucity in children’s films in the region and other issues. Excerpts
What made you decide to build a version of the International Children Film Festival for North East India?
We have in the past organised many films festivals and events for children and undertook extensive exhibition activity. Over the period we have learnt that such an initiative binds them closer to the country and its people, when we showcase various CFSI films, which essentially cover the entire gamut of the culturally rich country. To extend our initiatives so far, we decided to bring this as a precursor to our upcoming 20th Golden Elephant, ICFFI, we came to Nagaland.
There has been a paucity in children’s films and stories in the North East throughout the festival here. How this issue can be addressed?
The North East has a huge talent pool, both in terms of production and acting. We have in the recent past seen many professionals coming up and focusing upon film-making and especially around the subjects and issues related to North-East. For example, a recent CFSI film ISHU, made around the social evil of witch-hunting is a classic example. We at our end plan to encourage the filmmakers from the North East working towards this cause.
We read about the overwhelming success and outreach of the Children Film Bonanza being held every year in all states of northeast India what is your vision behind doing such screenings and festivals in these states?
Our CFSI Film Bonanza has been a great success with lakhs of children having been covered through this initiative. We will continue and escalate this in the NE states in India apart from covering the rest of the country.
Mostly film making is not highly considered as a career choice for children, what do you think we can do to help them understand that this can be a full-fledged career option?
Films were a taboo in yesteryears, but gone are those days. Today’s media and outlets of expressions have grown multi-fold along with a change in the mindset and perceptions of the parents. You have more devices like mobile phones that allow children to experiment with their expressions and produce creativity.
Today, you have an internet that allows children to build their knowledge base and learning, which can then be applied to film-making.
And there are many opportunities to learn and upgrade their skills apart from the institutions like CFSI, which has been tirelessly and in committed fashion working towards this cause and especially in the last 5 years. With more and more experts from the current film fraternity moving towards this cause will result into a higher impact.
Khasi film on top 15 list at Assam fest
Khasi short film Ki Lum Ki Kyang (The Hills Cry), co-directed by Nongstoin-based Rinaldi Kharbani and Dominic Marwein, has found a place among the top 15 films in the competitive category of the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2017.
Ki Lum Ki Kyang is the only film from Meghalaya that has been chosen.
The film is a fiction based on the issues arising in Meghalaya post Independence. It portrays the turmoil arising out of the changing mode of administration, corruption, illiteracy, fear of losing indigenous tribal identity and other issues that were a result of pre-western colonialism.
The film also shows how the same issues can fuel the future generation and lead to further disorientation and confusion.
Ki Lum Ki Kyang will be screened at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival in Guwahati, to be held on September 15-17. The result for the top three films from among the chosen 15 will be declared on the last day of the festival.
The directors have further added and shared their intentions of making a full feature film version of Ki Lum Ki Kyang. The project is likely to be taken up by end of the year.
The film is produced by Phyrnailin Myrthong and the cast members include Spainlang Sunn, Spatsingh Marngar, Phines Nongshillong and the residents of Mawkhiat village, Rambrai.