SHILLONG, May 5: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday sought to end the discussion on the Cannes Film Festival saying that the two people who have been selected by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should be allowed to attend the same.
She pointed out that keeping the controversy alive makes it look like the two persons are not eligible to represent the state at Cannes.
She was reacting to announcement by filmmaker Nicholas Kharkongor that he would not be attending the Festival schedules later this month.
“We should remember that there is no dearth of filmmakers in the state. We have a huge pool of talented individuals who have earned appreciation for the films they have made in recent years,” Lyngdoh said.
She said that the trip to Cannes is sponsored by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“There are two individuals who have been told that they will be going and there are two more who have said that they had applied. Everybody on this list has contributed enormously towards the growth of the film industry in the state. So the question is who we send?” she said while adding that these kinds of situation occurs when X is selected and Y or Z is not.
The minister also said many more filmmakers will get the opportunity to attend Cannes Film Festival in the next five years.
“I would appeal to the film fraternity to allow the selected persons to go to the Festival. Let the state be represented rather than remaining unrepresented,” Lyngdoh said.
When pointed out that Commissioner and Secretary, Vijay Kumar had send another set of names over and above what the DIPR had sent to the Ministry, she said it does not matter whether an officer, political master or the Ministry itself takes the decision on who should represent the state.
Meanwhile, the Society of A’chik Film and Entertainment (SAFE) based in Tura, has questioned the exclusion of Garo filmmaker, Dominic Sangma from the Cannes list.
Mentioning that his absence is a great loss for the Garo community and the state’s film industry as a whole, SAFE on Friday dispatched a letter to the Director, Information and Public Relations, Shillong, copies of which were also forwarded to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and the Director of Art and Culture Department.
“Sangma has years of experience in films and has made significant contributions to the cinema industry. He has brought attention to Garo Hills and Meghalaya as a whole, through his artistry. In 2010, his short film Karyukai Inc. made the rounds in international film circuits like Munich, Kosovo and Venice. In 2014, his short film, Rong’kuchak won the National Award for ‘Best Student Film’ and went on to be screened at various film festivals, both nationally and internationally. Ma’ama became the first Garo film to win multiple film festival awards at the international level, including the 65th National Award. His latest work, Rapture travelled to the coveted Cannes under the La Fabrique section. Both these two films became the first indigenous films from Meghalaya to be co-produced by international producers,” the letter read.
“Furthermore, he has been the recipient of various international film festival awards and has been invited to numerous events across the world to showcase his work. It is disheartening to know that despite the recommendation from the Arts and Culture Department and Director of Information & Public Relations, Sangma’s name was removed from the list of delegates to be sent to the Cannes Film Festival at the last moment,” the letter added, while demanding to know the reason behind the sudden change of decision.
Pointing out that it was imperative to recognise and promote talents from the region, especially those who have already made a significant contribution to the field of arts and culture, the society urged the concerned authorities to take immediate and necessary action and not to repeat such mistakes in the future.
