IMPHAL, Aug 18: The 2nd Manipur International Documentary, Short and Animation Film Festival, 2010 organized by Films Division, Mumbai, in collaboration with Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) kicked off today at MFDC Theatre Complex, Palace Compound in Imphal.
The inaugural function was graced by Padmashri A. Shyam Sharma, RK Nimai, commissioner of art and culture, Kuldeep Sinha, director general of Films Division, Mumbai, and Dr. Kh. Sorojini, director arts and culture, as the chief guest, president and guest of honor respectively.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Shyam Sharma stated that the festival would provide a good platform for the screening of various documentary films which are hardly viewed by the people of the state.
He further maintained that most people prefer commercial films to documentary films which are less entertaining, but in actuality the documentary films carry lots of significance in the present social milieu.
The state is also well advanced in the field of films and many young outstanding film makers have proved their caliber at various national and international film festivals, Shyam noted.
Altogether 27 films will be screened during the three-day festival that will continue upto August 20. The films include 14 films from the MIFF package like Vietnam Symphony, Zero Degrees of Separation, the Black Road and others, six films of Film Division on Manipur, namely Guru Amubi, Jewel of Manipur, Shingnaba, Tales of Courage, Manipur and Rajarshi Bhagyachandra of Manipur, and seven films from Manipur, namely Keibu Keioiba, Ratan Thiyam-the man of theatre, Pung, Rhythm of the Paradise, My Story-You and Me, Roshni, Mr. India and Panthou.
The films that will be screened tomorrow are Manipur directed by Benoy Roy, Salata Baladi directed by Nadia Kamel, Beyond the Wall directed by Vita Zellakeviciute, Rajarshi Bhagyachandra of Manipur directed by A. Shyam Sharma, Tale of Courage directed by A. Shyam Sharma, Mr. India directed by Haobam Pabankumar, View from A Grain of Sand directed by Meena Nanji, Jewel of Manipur directed by Jagat Murari, Riding Solo to the Top of the World directed by Gaurav Jani and Vietnam Symphony directed by Tom Zubrycki.