By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 11: The magic of cinema lies in its ability to evoke emotions, making us laugh, cry, and reflect on the complexities of the human experience, and that is exactly what the short film Path, directed by Pradip Kurbah screened at the closing day of the second edition of the Kelvin Cinema Festival did to the audience, at the U Soso Tham Auditorium, on Saturday.
Cinema is a medium so powerful that without a single dialogue and colour on screen, Path, made the audience feel connected.
And being well aware of the impact of the visual medium, Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times and social activist who served as the chief guest on the concluding day, called on the filmmakers of the state to make more cinemas that question those in power.
Addressing the filmmakers of the state she said, “I do not want to come between you and your next film, however knowing what cinema can do, I would urge filmmakers of the state and other states to make a few films on the political system, we need to reform and rejig the system, and cinema is such a powerful communication medium.”
The closing day of the three day film-festival also screened Apot by Raphael Warjri as the closing film.
Out of 218 films that were submitted to the festival, 18 films were from Meghalaya, and only 12 out of them made to the screening of the festival.
This year’s festival also saw a unique award, ‘The Cine Writer’s Award’ as recommended by Meenakshi Shedde, a renowned film critic who was a part of the all women-jury of the festival.
The award was bagged by Paulamii Dutta, for her contribution as a screenwriter in the Khasi Film Industry.
Son of the Soil, a film by Akanshya Bhagabati, won The Best Film. It is based on the conflict surrounding ownership of land between Haren, a native Assamese boy, heir of the land and Ali, a Bengali-Muslim labourer and a third generation immigrant who labored on Haren’s ancestral land for a decade while he was away from home working in the city.
The film was applauded by the jury and audience alike, especially for a choosing a topic that sensitive and as a women director.
Two Khasi movies that were screened at the festival, Ka Pateng and Jyllop won several accolades. Sankirang Khongwir won the best director for Ka Pateng, while the actor for Jyllop and Ka Pateng, Pynkmen Lyngodh Mawnai won the award for Best Actor (Male).
EL Dhar won the best cinematographer for Ka Pateng, while he also served as the director for Jyllop.
The best editor award was bagged by Reema Maya and Rohan Kapoor for the movie Nocturnal Burger while the protagonist, Millo Sunka also won the Best Actor (Female).
Meenakshi Shedde, film critic and jury, Kartiki Gonsalves, the only director of an Indian origin to have won an Academy for her social documentary, The Elephant Whisperers and Cherry Kordor Kharshiing, the Head of Department at the Mass Media and Communication Department at St. Anthony’s College, an all women star-studded jury had a tough time deciding the winner out of the lot.
The film festival also recognised three national award winners at the 69th National Film awards this year.
Biswajeet Bora’s film, Boomba Ride won the Best Mising film, while Monjul Baruah’s film, Anur won the best film in Assamese and Romi Meitei’s film; Eikhoigi Yum won the award for the Best Manipuri film.
The entire team of Iewduh, which won the Kim Ji-seok Award at the 24th Busan Film Festival directed by Pradip Kurbah was also felicitated.
In a unanimous sentiment, speakers agreed that this marks just the beginning of the Northeastern and Meghalaya’s film industry’s ascent.
The festival was organised by Shankar Lall Goenka and Jeevan Ram Mungi Devi Goenka Public Charitable Trust in association with Fraternity Art Cine Entertainment Shillong.
The vote of thanks was given by Pradip Kurbah.