By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 9: The second edition of the Kelvin Cinema Festival kicked off on Thursday at the U Soso Tham Auditorium. The festival is being organised by Shankar Lall Goenka and Jeevan Ram Mungi Devi Goenka Public Charitable Trust in collaboration with Fraternity Art Cine Entertainment Shillong.
Featuring a three-day film festival, the festivals boasts an all-women jury, including Kartiki Gonsalves, the sole Indian-origin director with an Oscar for her documentary The Elephant Whisperers, Meenakshi Shedde, a jury member at 25 film festivals worldwide, and Cherry Kordor Kharshiing, Head of the Department of Mass Media at St Anthony’s College.
Initiated in 2019, the festival was paused due to the pandemic. This year, a new addition is the Kelvin Cine Writers Award, recommended by Meenakshi Shedde, recognising writers contributing to Meghalaya’s cinematic landscape.
The inaugural ceremony had Information and Public Relation Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh as chief guest and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla as the guest of honour. Lyngdoh expressed optimism about recognizing and celebrating talent in the future.
The festival also acknowledged ‘unsung heroes’ like Destina Mawrie, Enshon Angelus Lamare, Headingson Ryntathiang, and Mina Ram Daimary from Assam’s film industry.
The inaugural ceremony opened to Simi Khongtiang’s Ka Chithi. Khongtiang is the only filmmaker from Jaintia hills and among the few women film-makers of Meghalaya.
The first day ended with an insightful conversation between the much acclaimed director, Dominic Sangma, Cherry Kharshiing and the Academy Award Winner, Kartiki Gonsalves.
