By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 9: A two-day national seminar titled ‘Craft, Culture, and Commerce of Cinema in North East India’ will be hosted by the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, on November 10 and 11 at the Golden Jubilee Auditorium.
Organised by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) in association with the North Eastern Council (NEC), the seminar aims to critically explore cinema’s multifaceted role as an artistic practice, socio-cultural force, and economic enterprise. The initiative seeks to foster dialogue among filmmakers, academicians, cultural practitioners, policymakers, and students to chart pathways for the growth and global recognition of cinema from the Northeast.
According to Prof Manash PGoswami, seminar convener, the event will feature over three dozen selected presentations spread across six technical sessions, three plenary sessions, and two panel discussions. These sessions will focus on cinema’s contribution to identity formation, cultural representation, and the development of a sustainable regional film economy.
Zonal Director, North East Region, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, N Munish Singh, will attend as chief guest, while Regional Director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Aizawl, Prof Shashwati Goswami, will deliver the keynote address.
Noted filmmakers Simi Khongtiang from Meghalaya, Bobby Wahengbam from Manipur and Sanjib Parasar from Assam will take part in a panel discussion on “Trends and Techniques of Storytelling in Northeast Cinema.” Another discussion titled “Rethinking Film Studies in Regional Context” will feature Prof Abhijit Bora, Prof Ravindra Vemula, and Dr Mousumi Bhattacharyya.
Eminent scholars including Prof Streamlet Dkhar, Dr Lapynshai Syiem, and Dr Arzuman Ara will speak during the plenary sessions. To conclude the first day, students of the JMC department will stage a cultural programme, “Rhythm of the Hills,” on November 10 at 6 pm.
