Films from Northeast to get Global Exposure, GIFF to Attract International Filmmakers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Films from the Northeast will get international exposure. Some of the best films from the region will be screened at the Third Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) scheduled to be held in the city from October 31 to November 6.

GIFF director Monita Borgohain said there are many talented filmmakers in the Northeast who have been carrying out excellent work. She added that the festival will provide a platform to watch the best contemporary films made in the region.

The GIFF will screen Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) winners like Bulbul Can Sing (Assamese) by Rima Das, Ma’ama (Garo) by Dominic Sangma, Mishing (in Sherdukpan dialect of Arunachal Pradesh) by Bobby Sarma Baruah and In the Land of Poison Women (in Pangchenpa dialect of Arunachal Pradesh) by Manju Borah.

Aamis by Bhaskar Hazarika, which recently won two awards at the third edition of Singapore South Asian International Film Festival, will have its Assam premiere. Jwlwi — The Seed, a Bodo language film by Rajni Basumatary, who played Mary Kom’s mother in her biopic, will also have its world premiere. The film deals with the struggle of families who lost their near and dear ones when insurgency was at its peak in Assam and in other parts of the Northeast.

Aribam Shyam Sharma’s latest film Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi (The Guest), will have its world premiere during the GIFF.

In the Land of Poison Women is based in Arunachal Pradesh, near the border of China-administered Tibet. It deals with the blind belief in the Pangchenpa community that women have poison in their nails and when they serve food to the males, the latter die immediately or slowly.

Dominic Sangma’s debut feature film Ma’ama narrates the story of Philip Sangma who is searching for his dead wife, Anna. Mishing deals with the folklore of the Sherdukpen people.

On other hand, the week-long GIFF will witness international films from more than 60 countries. The theme of the festival this time is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family).

While the ‘Country of Focus’ will be Iran; Latin America and the Caribbean countries will be the ‘Region of Focus’ in the film festival. Krzysztof Zanussi, a Polish film and theatre director, producer and screenwriter will be the chief guest at the GIFF.

Also Read: Global Family Theme at 3rd Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF)

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