Itanagar, April 21 (Representative) The two-day Arunachal Film Festival got underway at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre here on Thursday with Advisor, Information and Public Relations Department, Laisam Simai (MLA) inaugurating the calendar event in the presence of noted movie director Ashan Muzid and other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, Simai said that Arunachal Film Festival is an initiative of the State Government to give platform to state’s indigenous filmmakers and budding talents to meet together, and discuss ideas and showcase their movies. He said that Arunachal is rapidly growing in all fields including in filmmaking arena, as there are many award winning films produced by young directors of the state. With diverse cultures & traditions of various tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and the natural beauty of the land, the lawmaker said, our state has lots of scope in this sector, while adding that shooting of many Bollywood movies like Koyla, Bhediya,, etc in state is testimony to our scenic beauty.Simai further said that besides exposure of the state, films also facilitate protecting and preserving our culture and identity from intrusion of modernisation. Filmmaking, he said, is one part of preserving identity through documentation, and encouraged the interested youths to take up this form of entrepreneurship.Simai also thanked the state’s pioneers of filmmaking who showed and brought the art here.
Ahsan Muzid, Director of the movie ‘Sonam’ (The Fortunate One), recalled the journey of making his first feature film Sonam in Arunachal and the difficulties and adventures they faced during that time. Getting nostalgic, Muzzid elaborated on the challenges faced during shooting of the film at Dirang in 2005-06. He expressed his gratitude to former Chief Ministers Mukut Mithi and late Dorjee Khandu, who supported them both financially and morally. He also appreciated the growth in youths who are now interested in filmmaking. The opening day had two workshops on ‘Screen Acting’ by Palin Kabak of Bhediya fame and ‘Cinematography’ by Nyago Ete, who was also a part of Bhediya movie. The workshops saw attendance from more than 50 youths.’Sonam’ movie by Ahsan Muzid, which is an adaptation of Padmashree awardee YD Thongchi’s book of the same name, ‘Missing (The Apparition)’ by Dr Sarma Barua and ‘Nana (A Tale of Us)’ by Tiakumzuk Aier were screened on the first day.The second day will see screening of movies like ‘The Tainted Mirror’ by Romi Meitei and ‘In the Land of the Poison Women’ by Manju Baruah.